[CW] Coast Guard Radsta Westport, Washington...NMW

[John Barnwell]

Well David I could not remember exactly how long that auto alarm duration was, but knew it was around 5 seconds. Regarding the Prinsendam, I reported aboard the Cutter Mellon in 1980 after my tour at NMR. The Prinsendam event was just before I reported aboard, but I was able to read through all of the logs pertaining to that event. It was almost like being there, All Mellon RM’s filled me in on the rest of the story. When I mention my DDD SOS event and the emotions, I was also thinking of you and what you were experiencing that night as well. The Prinsendam was one of, if not the greatest success stories in modern maritime history. If I recall correctly, no casualties….everyone survived. Lots of elderly folks onboard, and lifeboats lowered into a pretty significant sea state…..15 to 20ft seas? 

At one time, I was considering a RO career post Coast Guard. I had visions of world travel. The dismantling of the merchant RO’s and automation killed that dream.

73 John

> On Jul 13, 2020, at 8:11 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:
> 
> John,
> 
> I think we have several RM''s ex NMR on this list.
> 
> The ONLY recording of the 4 second auto alarm dashes on the Internet
> happens to be the one that I got from NOJ Kodiak, AK from the
> PRINSENDAM SOS and rescue of October, 4, 1980.
> https://qsl.net/n1ea/sos_de_pjta_small_file_size.mp3
> 
> I have a whole treasure trove of PRINSENDAM stuff on archive.org.
> 
> Thanks for the post, sad memories, but your handling the SOS was a
> proud moment.  ZUT.
> 
> 73
> DR
> 
> N1EA