January 1989  

The Caroline Overnight Alternative Service was reintroduced after Radio 819 had closed for the day, but during February the station (along with Radio 819), was off the air for various periods while a team of specialist riggers constructed new aerial masts on board the Ross Revenge.

24th-27th March 1989 (Easter weekend)  

Radio Caroline celebrated its 25th Birthday with a Top 1001 countdown broadcast throughout the weekend using both frequencies (558kHz and 819kHz).

early July 1989  

DJs and crew on board the Ross Revenge began to suspect that the radio ship was under surveillance by the authorities once again, but nothing was said over the air on either Radio Caroline or Radio 819.

17th August 1989

A British Coastguard vessel, Landward, took up position close to the Ross Revenge and a Dutch official informed those on board the radio ship that the Radio 819 organisation on land had been raided and all people associated with the station arrested. He also asked the crew of the Ross Revenge to close down their transmitters.

18th August 1989

Programmes on both Caroline 558 and Radio 819 continued as normal, but at 10.50am a coded indication to the station's land-based representatives that something was seriously wrong aboard or near the Ross Revenge was broadcast on Caroline 558. The station also started announcing as "Radio Caroline" rather than "Caroline 558" and after midday Radio 819’s frequency was used to also broadcast Radio Caroline programmes. The programmes of WMR on shortwave were discontinued shortly after midday.

Later that evening  Radio Caroline announced that the Landward had been joined by a Dutch ship, the Volans, which had on board Dutch police and Dutch Radio Regulatory Department  (Opsporings Controle Dienst - OCD) officials.

19th August 1989

Radio Caroline (and Radio 819) broadcast separate programmes again.

The Volans drew alongside the Ross Revenge and, after repeated refusals of permission to come aboard, a 30 strong party of Dutch police and OCD officials forced their way on to the radio ship and informed the crew that they had come to dismantle the transmitters and studios. The Dutch were accompanied by DTI officials from Britain.

Listeners to both Radio Caroline and Radio 819 were kept informed by way of special announcements, but at 1.08 pm both medium wave transmitters on the Ross Revenge fell silent and once again Radio Caroline had gone off the airwaves.

17th September 1989

The Caroline Movement listeners' group  organised a demonstration in London to show support for the station and for the crew who had remained on board the Ross Revenge. Records and food parcels  were donated by supporters and and later taken to the Ross Revenge for the benefit and comfort of those still on board. The Caroline Movement also launched a 'Caroline Legal Fund' to raise finance towards the legal action being taken against the Dutch Government over the raid.

30th September 1989  

The first test transmission, on 558kHz, took place using a medium wave transmitter built by engineer Peter Chicago from spare parts he had hidden away before the raid and from the wreckage of the short wave transmitter.

1st October 1989

Shortly after 12 noon Caroline 558 returned, with two DJs, Caroline Martin and Dave Asher sharing the programme hours until close at 6.00pm.

end of October 1989

It was announced that the new London ILR station, Spectrum Radio, would be allocated the 558kHz frequency used by Radio Caroline.

1st November 1989

The sponsored religious programmes returned under the umbrella title "Viewpoint"

14th November 1989

Transmission hours were extended to 24 hours a day and a regular news and weather service was re-introduced.