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<H3><FONT face=Verdana size=3><IMG
src="http://www.redsandonline.co.uk/assets/logo.jpg" width=500><A
href="http://images.google.pt/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oysta.fsnet.co.uk/rsfort.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.oysta.fsnet.co.uk/o-extra2.htm&h=325&w=438&sz=37&hl=pt-PT&start=11&sig2=Dgw60_8zRl8dQnkjqNgwvA&tbnid=5fT36D_YWJN0VM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=127&ei=COHXR_3VG6mipwTOhbSiAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThe%2BRed%2BSands%2BForts%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Dpt-PT%26sa%3DG"><IMG
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height=94
src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:5fT36D_YWJN0VM:http://www.oysta.fsnet.co.uk/rsfort.jpg"
width=127></A><A
href="http://images.google.pt/imgres?imgurl=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/rsands5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/odds07.htm&h=375&w=500&sz=15&hl=pt-PT&start=7&sig2=DH_9rqy6RtGg2tZQ6ba7_A&tbnid=Pr1jlAa3fMUmWM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&ei=beHXR9D1LanUpgTwssiZAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DThe%2BRed%2BSands%2BForts%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Dpt-PT%26sa%3DN"><IMG
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height=98
src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Pr1jlAa3fMUmWM:http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/rsands5.jpg"
width=130></A><BR>Icom set to broadcast from unique WWII army sea fort
</FONT></H3>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>This summer, <STRONG>Icom UK</STRONG> is to sponsor a
unique radio station on the outskirts of Kent. In fact this special station
called <STRONG>Red Sands Radio</STRONG> will be 8.5 miles offshore from
Whitstable on the North coast of Kent in an old WWII Army Sea Fort on the Red
Sands. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>The radio station, which will be on-air from early July,
will be broadcasting to 1,000's of listeners in Kent on 1278kHz and via the
Internet at </FONT><A href="http://www.redsandonline.co.uk/" target=_blank><FONT
face=Verdana>http://www.redsandonline.co.uk</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>.
<BR><BR>As part of the sponsorship agreement, Icom UK are planning to operate an
<STRONG>Amateur Radio special event station</STRONG>. Ofcom has issued
<STRONG>GBORSR</STRONG> the special call sign for this occasion.</FONT></P>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=250 align=right border=0>
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<TD><FONT face=Verdana><IMG
src="http://www.icomuk.co.uk/images/icom/fieldsetField/259/IC756PRO3RD.jpg"
width=250></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Verdana color=#666666>The Icom
IC-756PROIII</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Icom will be broadcasting on HF using an </FONT><A
href="http://www.icomuk.co.uk/categoryRender.asp?categoryID=3510&cCID=5455"
target=_blank><FONT face=Verdana>IC-756PROIII</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana> in
the evening and on VHF/UHF in the day. Icom UK also plan to conduct D-Star
transmissions into a repeater system and the Internet. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>A vertical antenna will be affixed to the stanchions on
the Southern Gun Tower roof to support the communications. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana><STRONG>Project-Redsand</STRONG> is a Registered Charity
that aims to preserve the Red Sands Army Fort as they are the last complete set
of its kind in the world. Red Sands Radio is part of that task but in addition
has the ambition to provide real 'Local Radio for Local People'. Programme
Director, Bob Le-Roi said, 'Icom have a mutual interest in what we are doing and
we're delighted they're aboard. We're offering Icom UK an opportunity to
broadcast world-wide during this summer transmission period.'<BR><BR>He added, '
preparing the Fort for broadcasting is a mammoth task. We install generators,
set up the radio station, erect an antenna system and make it habitable. It will
be a big job for us all.' <BR><BR>Icom UK Managing Director Phil Hadler said,
'We very much enjoyed the programmes from Red Sands Radio last year, it was a
breath of fresh air hearing something different, that was topical and local,
that played a wide range of music. We as a specialist organisation realised how
difficult it was to pull off the initiative and are pleased to be supporting the
project hereon'<BR><BR>Radio Red Sands launches in early July 2008. For more
details of this unique station including operating times and frequencies stay
tuned to this website </FONT><A href="http://www.icomuk.co.uk/"
target=_blank><FONT face=Verdana>www.icomuk.co.uk</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>
or </FONT><A href="http://www.hamlife.co.uk/" target=_blank><FONT
face=Verdana>www.hamlife.co.uk</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>.
<BR><BR><STRONG>About Project Redsand </STRONG>(</FONT><A
href="http://www.project-redsand.com/" target=_blank><FONT
face=Verdana>www.project-redsand.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>)<BR><BR>The
Thames Sea Forts are the last in a long history of British Marine Defences. The
Army Anti Aircraft forts have played a significant role in post World War 2
developments. Notably in offshore fuel exploration and drilling platforms. The
successful rapid deployment of the Maunsell Forts soon after led to the
construction of the first offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in the
late 1940's. <BR><BR>Up until 2003, no serious consideration had been paid to
the preservation of any of these historic structures. Now discussion is taking
place within Government Agencies, which will determine the future of The
Maunsell Towers. </FONT></P>
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<TR>
<TD><FONT face=Verdana><IMG height=240
src="http://www.southgatearc.org/images/offshore/red_sands_1_250.jpg"
width=250 border=1></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Verdana color=#666666>The Red Sands Forts
</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Project Redsand has been established to secure the Redsand
Towers, coded "Uncle 6" during WW2 and chosen because it is the better of the
two Army forts, closest to shore and clear of the main shipping lanes.
<BR><BR>Project Redsand have, since August 2003, been in discussion with
Government Agencies about this proposal. Concerns such as the stability and
structural integrity of the fort have been addressed. During July 2004, a survey
team inspected the fort on behalf of Project Redsand. A Port of London Authority
diving team together with Taylor Woodrow materials specialists gave the "all
clear" to go ahead with the Project. <BR><BR>Mowlem Marine, experts in marine
structures, installed a new safe access system for Project Redsand in 2005.
Materials were donated by a number of River Thames companies. Other companies
around the UK are now preparing to assist Project Redsand. <BR><BR>Meanwhile,
the Department for Culture Media and Sport has considered an application to list
the structures. A summary of their report can be seen on the News page. The
Project Team are seeking sponsorship and grant aid for the restoration program
which will form a Charitable Trust. <BR><BR>The Ministry of Defence is to supply
a team of Royal Engineers who, as part of a training exercise will assist
working parties at the Fort. <BR><BR>The duration of the restoration program
will be determined by the availability of funding. This may take a number of
years to realise. Patience, determination and hard work will be essential. To
date, media support has been excellent. The Project has been covered by The
Times, BBC Breakfast TV, The Telegraph and a host of local TV, Radio and
newspapers. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>July 2007 saw the first licensed broadcast from the
Redsand Fort. A 10 day Restricted Service Licence allowed transmission on medium
wave and a webcast, commemorating 40 years since the demise of "offshore radio"
from the Thames Estuary forts. Red Sands Radio was sponsored by Canterbury City
Council and the Lottery Fund.<BR></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>