NEW MASTS SEIZED
New masts that were secretly being built on land were delivered to Chalk Wharf, Queensborough on 13th March. But the police had been watching the Laser group for over a week and seized the masts and arrested American David Irvine and the wharfs owner. David Irvine appeared in Sheerness court on 13th April. Irvine, a qualified marine engineer, had been hired by Laser to sort out their technical difficulties. Mr. Gary Patten, from the Department of Public Prosecutions said that some of Laser's early broadcasts had interfered with reception of BBC Radio 4 in London and there was a danger that signals could interfere with distress channels. He added "the defendant was in charge of the project in the UK and had been paid 3750 dollars by a Panamanian company. The masts were being welded together at Queensborough and £10, 000 was paid to the contractors as anticipated costs of labour and materials ". For the defence, Mr. Gregory Treverton-Jones said Irvine, a graduate of the US coastguard Academy was a man of good character and would not have undertaken the job if he had realised it was against the law. He said "Mr Irvine realised the British Government did not approve of what the ship was doing, but he made inquiries before he came over in December and was told there were no illegalities involved provided the ship remained outside the 12 mile limit. Irvine admitted agreeing to furnish another ship with equipment, knowing or having reason able cause to believe that broadcasts were to be made while it was on the high seas. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £50 costs. The main anchor chain on the Communicator snapped on 1st April, during a storm. The vessels on-board anchor was dropped and drifting was arrested. Another source was found for the new masts and these were built on board, being completed by 5th May.

View from the deck

Seized masts