In January 2007, after the Swedish Government confiscated their servers, the Pirate Bay announced their plan to buy the micronation of Sealand and move their servers to the platform six miles off the eastern coast of England. Over the next month they raised $20,000 in donations, but the asking price from the Sealand Monarchy was closer to $500 million. When negotiations with the Royal Family broke down the Pirate Bay decided to find a more suitably priced island.
This latest event in the strange history of Sealand, is not out of character for the 6000 square foot man-made pedestal which started out as a British Naval Fort in 1942. After the war, the British Government had no use for the fort and abandoned it. The nation of Sealand was established in 1967 by a pirate radio broadcaster called Roy Bates after a gunfight with his former partner. Several skirmishes between bands of pirate broadcasters followed, but Prince Roy was able to hold the island. He also fought back a British invasion when he won a court case by claiming that the island was outside British territorial waters and was available for settling due to dereliction of sovereignty by the British Government.
11 minutes. Link to Video
In 1978 Sealand was briefly taken over by several Dutch and German citizens led by the then Prime Minister of Sealand, Alexander Achenbach. After three days, Prince Roy retook the island in an armed helicopter assault holding the rebels as prisoners of war. Most of the prisoners were quickly repatriated, but one prisoner who held a Sealand passport remained in captivity charged with treason. After several weeks and a visit from a German diplomat, he too was released unharmed. Since the War of 1978, the rebel government has remained in exile in Germany where they are accused of selling 150,000 counterfeit Sealand passports (only 300 official passports exist).
8.5 minutes. Link to Video
In 1999, facing health problems, Roy of Sealand ceded control of the nation to his son, Micheal, and the Royal Family moved to the mainland. Since 2000, the island has been leased by the HavenCo datacenter. From their website:
HavenCo is building a secure managed colocation business with the added advantage that the customers’ data will also be physically secure against any legal action.
An electrical fire in June 2006 inflicted extensive damage to the power generators. By November repairs to the platform had been completed and 3 kW of wind turbines installed.
Look for the forthcoming movie in 2008. You don’t suppose their refusal to host the Pirate Bay on their servers might have something to do with that, do you?
:: Principality of Sealand Official Website
:: Rebel Sealand Government Website
:: Damn Interesting Article
