Principality of Sealand
Principality of Sealand | |
|---|---|
| Micronation (unrecognised entity) | |
Aerial view of Sealand in 2005 | |
| Location | HM Fort Roughs, an offshore platform off the coast of England 51°53′42.6″N 1°28′49.8″E / 51.895167°N 1.480500°E |
| Area claimed | 0.0004 km2 (0.00015 sq mi) |
| Number of residents | 1 (as of August 2024) |
| Claimed by | Paddy Roy Bates, Michael Bates |
| Dates claimed | 1967–present |
Website sealandgov.org | |
The Principality of Sealand (/ˈsiːˌlænd/) is a micronation on HM Fort Roughs (also known as Roughs Tower), an offshore platform in the North Sea. It is situated on Rough Sands, a sandbar located approximately 11 kilometres (6 nmi) from the coast of Suffolk and 13 kilometres (7 nmi) from the coast of Essex. Roughs Tower is a Maunsell Sea Fort that was built by the British in international waters during World War II. Since 1967, the decommissioned Roughs Tower has been occupied and claimed as a sovereign state by the family and associates of Paddy Roy Bates. Bates seized Roughs Tower from a group of pirate radio broadcasters in 1967 with the intention of setting up his own station there. Bates and his associates have repelled incursions from vessels from rival pirate radio stations and the UK's Royal Navy using firearms and petrol bombs. In 1987, the United Kingdom extended its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, which places the platform in British territory. As of August 2024, Sealand has only one permanent resident.