From Herring Lugger to Radio Ship
Few vessels connected with offshore radio have had a life as varied—or as long—as the MV Morgenster. Built as a humble North Sea fishing boat in the final year of the First World War, she later became involved—directly and indirectly—in two unusual broadcasting ventures. Decades later, after a major restoration, she would re-emerge as a celebrated sail-training vessel.
Her story spans more than a century of maritime history, from the herring fleets of Scheveningen to the curious world of offshore radio.
Origins: The Herring Lugger Vrouw Maria
The vessel that would become Morgenster was launched in 1919 as the herring lugger Vrouw Maria, registered SCH 324, for the fishing company den Dulk.
She was constructed at the Boot shipyard in Alphen, a yard known for building sturdy fishing vessels for the Dutch fleet. Designed for the North Sea herring fishery, the vessel operated as a traditional sailing lugger during her early years.
In 1927 the vessel underwent major changes. She was motorised with a 200-hp La Meuse engine and extended by seven metres, increasing both her capacity and operational range. Following these modifications she was renamed Morgenster.
For the next four decades she continued working as a motorised fishing vessel, based in Scheveningen, operating under the registration Scheveningen 324.
The End of a Fishing Career
By 1970, tightening certification requirements for fishing vessels forced the owner to withdraw the ship from commercial fishing.
She was subsequently sold to Jac Vrolijk, who used the vessel for sport fishing day trips from Scheveningen’s Tweede Binnenhaven.
During this period the vessel also became involved in the offshore radio scene—though not as a broadcasting platform itself.
Tender for the Radio Ship Mi Amigo
In 1973 and 1974, Morgenster served as a tender vessel supplying the offshore radio ship MV Mi Amigo.
Operating from Scheveningen, the vessel transported personnel, supplies and equipment to the anchored radio ship. Tender vessels were a crucial part of offshore radio operations, as they allowed ships broadcasting outside territorial waters to maintain a logistical connection with land.
Morgenster was not unique in this role. She belonged to a family of similar vessels often used in offshore radio logistics. Her sister ships included:
- Oceaan VII, used by Radio 270
- Aegir II, used by Radio Delmare
- the vessel Dolfijn, another ship used as a tender in the 1970s.
Radio engineer Paul Rusling later recalled that Morgenster was almost identical to Oceaan VII.
Jac Vrolijk operated several vessels during this period, including the larger Zeester and the fishing boat Dolfijn, which reportedly retained the unmistakable smell of its fishing trade.
A One-Day Station: Radio Stereo Patat
On 9 April 1973, Morgenster briefly became a broadcasting platform itself.
The vessel hosted Radio Stereo Patat, a short-lived station created by the Comité Nederland Muziek as part of the official programming of VPRO.
Broadcasting took place off the coast of Scheveningen using a low-power relay transmitter installed on board the vessel. The event formed part of a protest against the limited airplay given to Dutch music on national radio.
Although the broadcast was modest in scale, it demonstrated that the vessel could serve as a broadcasting platform—an idea that would resurface several years later.
The Radio Delmare Plan
In early 1981, the ship was purchased by Leendert Vingerling for the Radio Delmare organisation.
The purchase price was 35,000 Dutch guilders, although the total investment would eventually reach around 120,000 guilders, financed by a supporter promoting the Rotterdam singer René Statson, whose music was not played on Hilversum 3.
The vessel was taken to Maassluis, where it was fitted out as a broadcasting ship at the Scheepswerf de Haas shipyard.
Officially, the vessel was presented as a promotional ship intended to visit ports to promote the singer’s music. In reality, plans existed to use the vessel for an offshore radio station.
Technical Preparations
The ship was equipped with:
- two antenna masts, originating from the vessel MV Magdalena
- a complete radio studio
However, no transmitters were installed at that stage.
The planned station was Radio Delmare, which was intended to begin broadcasting from international waters off the Dutch coast in June 1981.
The Project Is Discovered
Before the project could proceed, the authorities became aware of the plan.
When a trial voyage was scheduled in May 1981, harbour officials alerted the Radio Controle Dienst (RCD).
Inspectors examined the vessel but found no transmitting equipment on board. However, navigational charts belonging to Vingerling contained two small marks, which authorities interpreted as possible anchor positions for the planned broadcasting ship.
When one of Vingerling’s colleagues later confessed the intended purpose of the vessel, the ship was confiscated and moved to the entrepot harbour in Rotterdam.
Two Years in Legal Limbo
A legal process followed that lasted two years.
Eventually the vessel was returned to its owners, but by that time the offshore radio plan had collapsed. The ship was then sold to a buyer from Haarlem, allowing the financier to recover part of the investment.
The Morgenster’s brief involvement with offshore radio had come to an end.
Rescue and Restoration
By 1983, the vessel had fallen into extremely poor condition.
She was purchased by Marian Muter and Harry Muter, who began a long-term restoration project.
The ship was towed to Zijkanaal B near the village of Spaarndam, where extensive repairs and maintenance were carried out.
For many years the restoration progressed gradually. However, after selling their ship STV Jantje in 2005, the Muters were able to concentrate fully on restoring Morgenster.
A Complete Rebuild
In 2006, major structural work took place at Shipyard Balk on the island of Urk.
During this phase:
- more than 200 square metres of hull plating and frames were replaced
- a Norwegian rudder was installed
Later that year the ship moved to the historic naval dockyard Oude Rijkswerf in Den Helder, where her rigging was installed and final restoration work was completed.
In spring 2008, the vessel was officially recommissioned with Den Helder as her home port.
Shortly afterwards she was formally blessed by Maria van der Hoeve, marking her return to active service.
A New Life Under Sail
Since her restoration, Morgenster has become a familiar sight at maritime events and sail-training programmes.
She has:
- participated in the Tall Ships Races
- trained recruits for the Royal Netherlands Navy
- taken part in European youth programmes through Windseeker
The vessel has also collaborated with Sail Training Ireland and several maritime schools.
A Vessel with Many Lives
From herring fishing to offshore radio, and finally to sail training and maritime education, the Morgenster has experienced an extraordinary range of roles during more than a century afloat.
Her brief involvement in the offshore radio world—first as a tender for Mi Amigo, then as the intended broadcasting vessel for Radio Delmare—remains a fascinating footnote in that history.
Today, however, the old fishing vessel sails once again under full rig, carrying a new generation of sailors across the seas—proof that even ships once destined for radio adventures can find a second life under the wind.