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�