[CW] Info from John W3KHG about N1EA

[Walter - K5EST]

Great write-up DR

    Walter, K5EST ⚓
ZUT ---> CW Forever

On Mon, Sep 14, 2026, 23:50 D.J.J. Ring, Jr. via CW <cw at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> W3KHG sent me this: unfortunately I can't extract the links.
>
> David Ring was first licensed as a radio amateur in 1965, with the call
> WA1DRS. He upgraded to Amateur Extra in 1967 and obtained N1EA in 1978.
> Professionally, he held both an FCC First Class Radiotelegraph License and
> First Class Radiotelephone License, as well as a U.S. Coast Guard Radio
> Officer license. �
> Eastern Massachusetts ARRL +1
> He worked in broadcasting and at marine coast stations, including the
> famous WSC coast station at West Creek, New Jersey. He went to sea as a
> U.S. Merchant Marine radio officer from approximately 1980 through 1993. A
> later posting identifies his last ship as the research vessel R/V Knorr
> (KCEJ) of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in 1994. �
> Google Groups
> The Prinsendam disaster
> This is the episode for which Ring is particularly well known.
> On October 4, 1980, Ring and fellow Radio Officer James N. Pfister, NS1L,
> were aboard the American supertanker Williamsburgh, call sign WGOA, when
> they received the Morse distress traffic from the burning Holland-America
> passenger ship Prinsendam, call sign PJTA, in the Gulf of Alaska. �
> Eastern Massachusetts ARRL +1
> The remarkable part is that the Prinsendam's satellite communications
> failed during the emergency, while traditional Morse radiotelegraphy
> continued functioning. Ring's archive preserves recordings associated with
> the emergency as well as the Williamsburgh's radio log. �
> QSL.net
> Ring and Pfister provided an important communications link—relaying
> positions and estimated arrival times and helping keep the distress
> frequency clear. Contemporary coverage in QST specifically recognized their
> role. �
> World Radio History
> All of the passengers and crew were ultimately rescued. In 1988, Ring and
> Pfister received the Veteran Wireless Operators Association's Marconi Gold
> Medal for their work during the rescue. �
> Eastern Massachusetts ARRL
> He is still involved in maritime-radio history
> This is particularly interesting: Ring wasn't merely a historical figure
> whose activity ended decades ago. I found posts from 2025 and July 2026
> under D.J.J. Ring, Jr./N1EA discussing commercial radiotelegraphy and
> maritime communications. �
> Google Groups +1
> In August 2025, he was scheduled to give a presentation entitled
> “Commercial Radiotelegraphy” at the Northeast HamXposition, discussing life
> as a Merchant Marine radio officer and the Prinsendam SOS. �
> HamXposition
> He also appears to have put considerable effort into preserving the
> history and operating practices of 500-kHz maritime CW, commercial Morse,
> ship radio rooms, marine coast stations, and professional radiotelegraph
> operators.
> His Prinsendam archive is particularly worth looking at:
> David Ring N1EA — Prinsendam SOS and maritime Morse archive⁠�
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> =30=
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