The traditional NDR programme was broadcast for the first time on Christmas Eve 1953 - back then via Norddeich Radio, a maritime radio station in East Frisia. This year, the greetings to seafarers will once again be recorded at two events during the Advent season: on 10 December (Second Advent) at the "Kulturspeicher" in Leer and on 17 December (Third Advent) at the Hamburg Seamen's Mission "Duckdalben"
Relatives and friends will then have the opportunity to wish their loved ones at sea a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The event in Leer will be presented and accompanied by music from presenters Britta von Lucke and Andreas Kuhnt as well as the Bingumer Shanty Choir. In Hamburg, presenters Birgit Langhammer and Ocke Bandixen will host the programme. Here, the Swedish-South African folk-pop duo Fjarill will provide musical highlights.
There are still places available in the "Duckdalben"; registration at gruss-an-bord@ndr.de. This address can also be used foruntil 8 December letters or greetings will be sent to seafarers all over the world, also as voice mails. These will then be broadcast over the airwaves on Christmas Eve.
The programme "Gruß an Bord" has enjoyed cult status for years. It was first broadcast on the radio at Christmas 1953, making it one of the oldest radio programmes in the world still in existence.
NDR Info will broadcast the greetings on 24 December from 7 pm to 10 pm. Live streams will be available on NDR Info and NDR Info Spezial. It is also possible to listen to the programme via the NDR radio app.
NDR Info can also be received via FM, DAB+ and DVB-S radio, NDR Info Spezial via DAB+ and DVB-S radio.
So that all crews on board - on the seas or in harbours - can receive the traditional broadcast, NDR radio has rented short-wave frequencies especially for this purpose. From 18:00 to 21:00 UTC (19:00 to 22:00 CET), theShortwave over the following frequencies:
6080 kHz: Europe
15770 kHz: Atlantic Northwest
6030 kHz: Atlantic Northeast
13725 kHz: Atlantic South
11650 kHz: Atlantic/Indian Ocean/South Africa
9635 kHz: Indian Ocean
