Winlink Role during South Asia Tsunami Disaster

( D e t a i l e d   R e p o r t )

Almost immediately after the news first surfaced, the Winlink Development Team (WDT) was alerted to the possible consequences of the impending disaster. Winlink's role during disasters and emergency relief operations is particularly important because the majority of its Users are recreational cruisers that are traversing the world's oceans and take often extended layovers in coastal cities and towns of the many archipelago nations. At this time of the year the South-east and South Asian cruising grounds are particularly popular. Indonesia, Malaysia, The Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand offer many, usually tranquil and safe harbors and anchorages. Many of these cruisers do not have ready access, if available at all, to normal communication facilities. Winlink is their main communications lifeline.

Raising the alarm:

The first communication Sent to WDT on Sunday, December 26, 2004 12:25 reads: Subject: Aceh Earthquake & Tidal Wave:

As the news of the disaster started to unfold "AussieWinlink" reported:

Next it was necessary to attempt to start gathering information that could be published and forwarded to Search and Rescue websites to inform relatives and the public in general of developments should normal lines of communication fail. AussieWinlink, independently, had taken the initiative to attempt to make direct contact with the SYSOPS of Winlink stations that are nearest the oceans and land areas that would be worst impacted. The nearest Winlink radio stations are located in Bangkok Thailand; followed by the two on Australia's west coast and east coast, respectively; as well as those in New Zealand and in South Africa. Initial communications were along the following lines:

The Winlink network started to buzz with frantic messages that accumulated at Winlink's Participating Mail Box Offices (PMBO) arriving from those at home from all over the world trying to send email to cruisers that were thought to be in the stricken areas. One exchange of communications reads:

In the meantime a potential tragedy was unfolding that, in addition to those personally involved, was also of great concern to Winlink and Sailmail-equipped cruisers. The German radio amateur who invented PACTOR, the protocol that drives the digital modems used by all Winlink and SailMail Users, was reported missing. The first alarm was raised by WDT and reads as follows:

"Hans-Peter Helfert, inventor of Pactor was in the Maldives. I hope he is okay"

The way Winlink works is that family and friends at home can send email messages via the Internet to those who far away but participate in the Winlink network. The messages are processed at a central server which than forwards the messages, again via the Internet, to many of the close to 40 Winlink PMBOs around the world. These message are then kept by the SYSOPs of the PMBOs in "virtual" mailboxes. It is then up to the intended recipient, that is, a Winlink User - who's always a fully licensed amateur radio operator, to establish radio contact with any one of the about forty Winlink PMBO around the world to: (1) collect any email and other information that is in the mailbox; and (2) if desired, send their own email and position reports into the Winlink system for forwarding these, via the Internet, to friends and family at home. Accordingly, it should be clear that Winlink only facilitates email forwarding and that family and friends cannot activate, send or control any amateur radio as both sending and receiving over radio are handled by licensed radio amateurs.

Clearly, the implication is that email (and other communications, like Position Reports and Weather Charts) will be passed on only when, like in this emergency, the vessel at sea establishes radio contact with a Winlink ground station. Putting it another way, Winlink is not in the business of initiating a radio transmission calling for any or all Winlink-equipped vessels. This is different from voice radio contacts where the caller must repeatedly call for the intended recipient over the air on a prior agreed frequency and time. Winlink does, however, have a facility to post, say, a general emergency message to each and every mailbox of every user registered with Winlink. For example, had the seismologists who monitored this particular earthquake forewarned Winlink of a potential tsunami risk in a certain area, Winlink could have put that message in every User's mailbox. However, the same principle applies, a cruiser cannot read such a warning until the vessel actually establishes radio contact with a PMBO to collect any mail. Under normal circumstances many but not all cruisers, do this perhaps only once per day.

However, cruisers tend to travel in groups or at the very least are in frequent voice radio contacts with cruisers nearby, particularly for weather and other safety-related reasons. The positive point therefore is that if such an emergency message reaches just one cruiser in an anchorage, marina or popular cruising ground the news will quickly spread over a large geographic area because it is then passed on by the recipient via short-range (VHF) radio or personally to nearby vessels. Winlink also has a feature that allows cruisers to ask for digests of international news services. However, even those that are on Internet news websites accessible to Winlink are not always on top of the latest local news, and certainly not in respect of a potential event such as an tsunami caused by an earthquake at a veracity that might occur only a few times in a century.
 

It was reported that the Seismologists, who had instantaneously witnessed this major earthquake on their sensors, allegedly, spent quite a lot of valuable time discussing whether it would or would not spawn a tsunami. The lead time for getting a warning out is relatively short. The underwater rolling wave is reported to have a speed of about 500 miles per hour. This means that those close to the epicenter virtually get no warning at all but those far away, like in Sri Lanka, in theory could have had an advance warning of three to four hours before the ground wave was forced up to become a tsunami when approaching land. With such advance warnings cruisers (and those in low laying areas on land) would have been able to take evasive action. Cruisers, even if moving at only five knots, could have have left marinas or shallow anchorages and have moved far enough offshore to safely ride the fairly harmless 3-foot surface wave before it developed into a 30 feet tsunami close inshore.

That the traditional news sources can be relatively slow in recognizing the significance of impending risk of this earthquake can be seen from the brief mention that appeared on page A29 of the Washington Post on Sunday morning, December 26, 2004. The article acknowledged that they were writing about a "powerful earthquake  with a magnitude of 8.5 (on the Richter Scale.)" It then reports that "160 people were killed in Sri Lanka and fourteen in popular southern Thailand resorts and 15 people were feared missing in India." We know know that the dead toll could turn out to be more than 100,000 and that maybe as many could die because of the diseases that follow the destruction of local health, transportation and communication infrastructures. This failing is perhaps understandable, because it was early in the morning when the paper was printed and because reporters are better at reporting events that actually occurred rather than those that might happen.

It is not clear to what extent local electronic communication infrastructure in the affected areas was destroyed. It appears that some systems survived reasonably well. However, whatever the level of devastation, is should be apparent to all official government and search and rescue organizations that radio amateurs can be a valuable national resource during national and international disaster and emergency relief operations. At this stage no tally is available about the contribution that is made by Winlink SYSOPS in Australia or elsewhere but we know that there is a considerable volume of Winlink Tsunami Traffic Reports. Many SYSOPS are burning the midnight oil to personally supervise their radio traffic and system efficiency.

As could be expected in this new communications age one of the most valuable and informative news sources are the various "Bloggers" who immediately report the situation in their immediate vicinity. A very informative and professionally website is www.noonsite.com. Extracts from posts on this site read:

For the complete text of this article use this link: http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2004-12-26-2.

Also, a "Google" will identify many Bloggers that are contributing reports from various countries.

Below are some of the exchanges of communications between Australian and other Winlink SYSOPS.

"Folks, An update on the tsunami situation. Traffic levels are slightly up from normal, but not massively. Certainly there are a lot of held "are you OK?" messages for many vessels in the affected area that have not been picked up as yet. I've seen a few "war stories" passing through, but have not as yet had any requests for extra assistance/time or seen any disaster relief traffic. However, at this point I imagine the only vessels communicating will be the lucky ones. I'm drawing up a list of vessels I know of that are in the area, and checking them off as I see them connect or attempt to connect. It is stinking hot and humid here in Perth, and the efficiency of my station is consequently suffering both with QRM from the local electricity grid and QRN from thunderstorms around the area. I've seen a few stations trying to connect but failing due to the noisy conditions. More news as/when it comes to hand" Phil VK6KPS"

"Phil: Thank you for the update. It is my guess that there is tremendous loss among Winlink/AirMail equipped cruisers in the affected areas. Tsunami means "harbor wave" in recognition that its impact is not really felt until the wave size grows exponentially when it hit shallow waters around coastlines. A 30-foot wave does a lot of damage to, if not completely destroy, any vessel moored with all chain anchor lines in shallow water. It would be worse for vessels that were in marinas. My hope is that just as in Grenada, where those Winlink Users and PMBOs that were within radio range, played a role in collecting and disseminating information about the status of vessels, and hopefully their crews, we have the same support for the tsunami-affected areas. In St. Thomas Bernie (Winlink PMBO - NP2E) handled 90 percent of the emergency traffic. Bernie (Winlink PMBO -WG3G), based in Trinidad, played a major coordinating role. Others who assisted were stations ZF1GC, HP2XBA and K4CJX " (See http://www.aussiewinlink.org/media_release_53.htm.)

"The news is not good and worsens as public communications are restored with the affected areas. Phuket is prominent but only because of the Tourist activity and the phone system remaining intact. I have many customers (yachts) in the area but no direct contact with any yet as I am refraining from using Winlink or SailMail. Phil reports that he is keeping a close eye on his station and we both have computer access to look after Charles's setup."

"It looks as if you are doing all what is reasonably possible at this stage. It would be useful though if we could start collecting communications that come from amateur radio sources, especially Winlink users, that are of use for search and rescue operations and to family and friends."

Phil (VK6KPS) the Winlink SYSOP, in Perth Australia whose Winlink ground station is most closely located near the epicenter of the earthquake, runs an informative webpage showing his contacts with vessels in the areas affected by the Tsunami. The site may be found at: http://www.bur.st/~philsuth/tsunami_status.html. It is continuously updated as new information about missing vessels is received.

The call for support brought out the best in people. For example, John (VK8HF) is an Australian Winlink PMBO pioneer. He was the first to answer the initial call for the establishment of a Winlink ground station in Australia. He did so while a few hostile radio amateurs at the highest level of the amateur radio bureaucracy vehemently opposed the establishment of Winlink's new and advanced technology in Australia. John's QTH (radio amateur parlance for home base) is in Darwin at the top end of the Australian continent. From that location his station had excellent coverage of the archipelago nations and oceans to Australia's north. For personnel reasons John had to close his station down some time ago. Winlink Users were fortunate because just at that time Phil (VK6KPS), another Australian radio amateur - based in Perth, Western Australia agreed to fill the void. John (VK8HF) has now offered, because of the emergency, to rejoin the Winlink global network. A final but important issue that has to be resolved is for John to have permanent Internet connectivity. Winlink's policy is to provide the highest possible reliability and convenience to its Users. This requires that messages are forwarded instantaneously every minute of the day for 365 hours per year. As Winlink is a free public service, any costs that have to be met, such as for fulltime high speed Internet access, have to be met by the Winlink SYSOP, personally. It is hoped that John (VK8HF) will be able to rejoin the Winlink fraternity soon. 


Ongoing Searches

In keeping with maritime tradition, it is always the responsibility of the skipper to ensure the safety of vessel and crew. In keeping with this obligation the radio amateur onboard, often the skipper and/or his partner, is advised to lodge frequently a position report with Winlink. This is referred to as the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) that has been built onto the AirMail End User software used by Winlink and developed and maintained by Jim (KE6RK).Jim is the skipper of "Heart of Gold" and co-owner of the SailMail system. APRS enables family and friends to keep track of a vessel's progress. More importantly, it gives Search and Rescue organizations the opportunity to try and locate missing vessels, as is needed during the current disaster. A summary of recent worldwide Winlink APRS Reports can be seen at the attached APRS page. (An explanation of Winlink APRS can be found at: www.aussiewinlink.org/media_release_55.htm.)

A second string available to more accurately pinpoint locations of vessels is through Winlink's "Near-By" Inquiry Module. It not only provides a summary of the nearest 40 position reporting vessels that includes in addition to the call sign, their location and as in this case, the distance and bearing from the epicenter. As can be seen in the attachment at the time of making the Inquiry only very few position reports were available. To see the recent "NEAR-BY" Summary click here > NEAR-BY.

The third but often most direct layer of support is when individual PMBO near or in the disaster area can become personally involved. Their start would be to check their logs of radio calls from vessels that were or may still be in the disaster area. The first line of defense is to see whether any of these known vessels have subsequent to the disaster logged onto their PMBO to send and collect messages. This, however, is almost an negative response because for those vessels that have sunk, grounded or lost their electric power, obviously, these cannot use their radios. The second and proactive approach is for the SYSOP to send messages to any vessel in the immediate vicinity, that has actually reported in, to ask these vessels for information about nearby vessels, irrespective of whether they are Winlink Users or not. Any information gathered in that manner can be passed on the search and rescue organization or posted on a website. In considering these alternatives it must be remembered that it is Winlink's primary role to provide communication facilities. The actual record keeping of, say, vessels lost and found is best carried out by volunteer services like www.boatwatchnet.org. Another position reporting service is provided by http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/.

What follow below are but a few examples of these ongoing searches:

From: Phil (VK6KPS) Winlink SYSOP in Perth, Australia. Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 19:50. Subject: RE: Tsunami traffic report

There are three Winlink yachts in the vicinity of the Maldives and none have reported into Winlink since the tsunami. The stations are:

From PA3DUV the Winlink PMBO in the Netherlands:

Winlink is one of the many other links of the "Boatwatch" network that support recreational cruisers around the world. Mike Pilgrim (K5MP) of the International Boat Watch Network at www.boatwatchnet.org reports as follows:

"Subject: Tsunami-related Boat Watch Requests.

The first of what surely will be many request have come in today, seeking health and whereabouts of mariners believed to be in the vicinity of the Tsunami two days ago in S.E. Asia.

I have begun a current list in the "Current Watch Full Text" link in our www.boatwatchnet.org web site.  I encourage you to inform me of vessels to be added to the list (please provide details as requested in the Reporting Form instructions on the web site), and be sure to inform me and the requesting party, if possible, when contact or supporting information is known. As of today we are seeking information on the following vessels (only brief info. listed here. See the web site for details).

1) S/V Infidien, 3 POB, apparently en route from Thailand toward Sri Lanka and Maldives (possibly Northern Sumatra or Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.)  Last heard from via Winlink (callsign KC0LGO) on December 21 with reported position at 6 - 45N and 99 - 08E. Contact myself and Patrick Enright, aboardkajsa(at)yahoo.com of any new news or contact with the vessel.

2) S/V "Fidelio of London" with 2 POB believed to be en route from Galle in southern Sri Lanka towards the Maldives by Christmas.  They have not used Winlink for past 90 days due to being off the boat while touring on land. Callsign is M0BKR.  Any information on SV "Fidelio" should be communicated to myself and to Jeanne Socrates, KC2IOV, synereida(at)yahoo.co.uk.

Please keep me apprised of any new developments on these two vessels, and please bring to my attention any other candidates for our boat watch endeavors. Thanks, Mike Pilgrim, K5MP International Boat Watch Network www.boatwatchnet.org"

More from Boatwatch:

TJ2MO reported at 12/28 10:25 UTC
HB9DTQ reported at 12/28 at 12:27 UTC
KA1VCQ reported OK at 12/28 15:04 UTC
DH1MZ reported at 12/27 13:02 UTC
PA2ALK reported at 12/28 at 16:41 UTC
KM9D reported OK at 12/28 at 20:12 UTC
KG4LAR reported at 12/27 at 03:41 UTC
KO4YI reported at 12/28 at 04:55 UTC
KD7PND reported OK on 12/28 at 12:29 UTC
KC5MNL reported OK on 12/28
KF4PHC reported OK on 12/27 at 13:20
KC0LGO reported OK on 12/28 at O6:22 UTC
KC2IOV reported on 12/27 at 08:11 UTC
GW0OJI reported OK on 12/28 at 07:44 UTC"

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), representing amateur radio in the USA, has instantly recognized Winlink's contribution in helping with the Tsunami Emergency Relief operations. It reported: "In the wake of the earthquake and tsunamis that hit the region December 26, Amateur Radio operators who have Winlink 2000 capability, many of them maritime, have found Winlink 2000 to be especially helpful to stay in touch with friends and family by e-mail, and to help handle emergency communications." The full story can be found at: www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/12/30/4/?nc=1. It can be expected that ARRL's counterpart in Australia, the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), will in due course also proudly report of the pivotal role played by those of its members that have Winlink capabilities. In fact, Australia is the base for the Winlink PMBO nearest the epicenter of the earthquake and thus handled much of the emergency traffic.

Visitors to this website that have missing family or friends on cruising sailboats can turn to www.winlink.org and follow the links that start at "Locating a Winlink User." Other useful websites for seeking assistance is www.boatwatchnet.org and http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/.

From: KC0LGO. Sent: 12/28/2004 6:22:12 AM. Subject: we're OK.

"We're OK but 6 people died in Nai Harn Beach where we were. 2 locals died in the beach restaurant we frequent and had dinner on xmas eve. All the small restaurants gone. Was scary. Rick was off the boat to do errands in town when it hit. I had almost gone for a swim 5 minutes before it hit. I would have been a goner and Jessie would have been alone. We were only 100 yards from a rock wall and anchored near many other boats. Was mostly concerned we would drag anchor and hit the wall where the waves were crashing in 25-30 ft. high. Even though we had lots of friends here it was every man for himself. We are still tracking down all our yachtie friends. We know some suffered boat damage but don't think any of our yacht friends died. We have been in some of the worst hit places in the last 10 days. Scary to think where we might have been. Will write more later. Patti, Rick and Jessie "

From: Vnw5490. Sent: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 15:01:41 +0800Subject: Backchat in Phuket

From Joost (ZS5S) Winlink SYSOP in South Africa:

Cruisers express their gratitude for Winlink. Wednesday, December 29, 2004 06:13. To: k4cjx(at)comcast.net.

It is much too early to talk about lessons learned in respect of Winlink operations but a few come already to mind:

4. Positive Identification: It would be extremely helpful if vessels in their communications, including position reports, quote their unique National or State boat registration numbers. Many boats have identical or similar sounding names. Relatives, friends, and search and rescue organizations would be much assisted if the source of any emergency communication could be positively identified.


The broader context

In the much broader context of the enormity of this calamity one gains the impression that the suffering and needs of the devastated communities were initially beyond the comprehension of those who should come to the fore in addressing the immediate urgent medical, drinking water and sustenance needs of millions of people. (To their credit action is underway now - but still not at the scale needed.)

This is also not a time for governments of wealthy nations to talk about donating millions. They should without hesitation and delay extend their own morality and honor the dignity of the victims by talking about donating billions. Neither is it a time to hold lengthy and slow international deliberations about sharing the financial and logistical burden. The principle for the sharing of costs has long since been established. It is that each nation should contribute according to its relative wealth.

International agencies, such as the United Nations, have long reminded governments of the ideal that each should contribute just one (1) percent of Gross National Product (that is, just one cent in the dollar earned) as foreign aid. This was later modified to only 0.7 per cent. Several Northern European countries (with Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands at the top) have moved close to or have exceeded this target. But some of the world's richest countries provide only just over one/tenth (or about 0.1 percent) of their GNP as foreign aide. For a record of "Official Development Assistance" click here > ODA.

Foreign aid is a good investment not only morally but economically and military. The great divide between rich and poor nations is not being tolerated much longer. If the poor are not voluntary given a reasonable minimal share than they will come and get it, either as an uncontrollable tidal wave of illegal immigrants or as terrorists.

The Tsunami was a natural disaster but war is a costly manmade disaster. No doubt humanity will be hit yet again by other, supposedly, unexpected disasters. Just as for this one, the rumbling of the movement below the surface can sometimes be heard in advance but few appear to have the foresight to recognize that these deep-down tremors may give rise to political and social "Tsunamis, Avalanches or Lahars."

Most of us try contributing as best as we can in our own limited way. Winlink does so in a narrow sense, and the radio amateur fraternity in a wider sense. These volunteers are contributing by providing a free public service that facilitates better and more efficient communications under often trying circumstances. It is a noble Cause. Governments should recognize and support this resource.

Copyright © 2002-2008 AussieWinlink. Material may be quoted with acknowledgement of its source. Last modified: September 28, 2008