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The MBR B-24 schedule lists the annual NDR Gruß an Bord (Greetings on Board for seafarers) show, on 24 December from 1800-2100 UTC on the following frequencies
6030 (via Issoudun),
6080 (via Tashkent),
9635 (via Moosbrunn),
11650 (via Issoudun),
13830 (via Nauen) and
15770 (via Okeechobee).
(BDXC?Alan Roe, Teddington, UK)
(photo/SW Radio Audio Archives and NRD)
The 'Gruss an Bord' NDR Hamburg has been around since 1953. After the end of the German-language shortwave programs of Deutsche Welle, it is carried by the NDR alone. Last year, the chairwoman of the Association of German Shipowners, Gaby Bornheim, honored the seventy-year tradition as follows: "'Greetings on board' has a tradition, yes, it is a tradition and certainly not an anachronism. Even if today, thanks to increasing digitalization, it is possible for sailors on board to speak to their relatives at home almost at any time, 'Greetings on board' is still something very special. It is about the connection between our sailors and their loved ones at home, who feel the separation so painfully, especially at the festival of love. The emotional, melancholic, but also happy messages from the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children of our sailors reflect the life that goes on, at home and on board. And this connection between the two, this bridge between land and sea, is needed today just as much as it was 70 years ago!" (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, Kurier Weltschau / Bieners DX Digest Nov 10)
(WWDXC Top Nx-BC-DX 1597/12 Nov 2024)
This year, for the 71st time, NDR will be broadcasting Christmas messages to all seafarers who are unable to be at home for the festive season. But the ship crews' greetings to their loved ones at home will also be broadcast. Anyone who would like to send greetings to the world on Christmas Eve can register for the recording on the second Advent.
For many - whether on land or at sea - it is already part of the Christmas routine: the "Greetings on board" programme will once again sweeten the festive season for some this year. The traditional programme was first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1953 via Norddeich Radio, a maritime radio station in East Frisia. Today, there are many (including modern) ways to follow the programme. Unlike in previous years, the recording only takes place on one day and only in Hamburg.
The recording of "Greetings on board" on 8 December
The Christmas greetings will be recorded at the Hamburg Seamen's Mission Duckdalben on the second Advent. Presenters Birgit Langhammer and Ocke Bandixen will be on site from 4pm to record the messages. The whole event will be accompanied by music from the Swedish-South African folk-pop band Fjarill. Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg's First Mayor, and Bishop Kirsten Fehrs will also be part of the recording.
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Anyone who would like to be present at the recording on 8 December or send their greetings to friends at sea can register by 3 December by sending an e-mail to gruss-an-bord@ndr.de log in.
How to follow the "Greetings on board" program 2024
The Christmas greetings are rolling in Christmas Eve from 7 to 10 pm on both NDR Info and NDR Info Spezial. Both can be listened to via the NDR Radio app. You can also receive NDR Info via FM, DAB+ and DVB-S radio. NDR Info Spezial cannot be received via FM. NDR has rented shortwave frequencies especially for the Christmas messages. This means that seafarers can follow the programme all over the world. The following frequencies are used for this purpose:
Europe: 6080 kHz
Atlantic - Northwest: 15770 kHz
Atlantic - South: 13830 kHz
Atlantic-Northeast: 6030 kHz
Indian Ocean: 9635 kHz
Atlantic/Indian Ocean/(South Africa): 11650 kHz
Before the actual "Greetings on Board" programme, there will be a one-hour special programme with a maritime focus.
