The Ship Report

White caps and white horses Today we'll talk about a specific sea state that you might see often off the downtown Astoria waterfront this time of year, and that's: white caps. Also called "white horses" in the UK. They're the result of a specific set of circumstances involving wind and tide, and they signal choppy conditions that mariners need to know about.

Anchor buoys, and why (and how) ships use them Today we hear from a river expert: Columbia River Pilot Captain Wes Balensifer answers a question from a listener about anchor buoys at Rainier on the Columbia River. We'll also talk about other anchorages on the river and why they don't have buoys.

Names, countries and other words painted on ships - and what they mean Today we'll talk about the words you see painted on the sides and sterns of ships. They can represent vessel names, flags of registry and the names of companies that operate ships. Today we'll talk about what that all means.

Ship speed: some factors that determine how fast ships go Today, a look at ship speed, how fast they can go, why they choose to slow down sometimes, and how long it takes to get from one place to another at sea.

The Sand Plan: guidelines that address a fact of life on the Columbia, and that's dredging Each year, the US Army Corps of Engineers dredges tons and tons (and tons) of sand out of the river to keep the ship channel open and navigable. We all rely on it to receive the goods we need to live our lives. It's also a huge economic driver for the region. But the dilemma remains: where to put all...

Boatlift: Recalling the maritime evacuation during 9/11 in Manhattan, which showed us the best we can be Today, on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on NYC and Washington, DC, we remember "Operation Boatlift": a stunning display of people helping people - as hundreds of private boat owners joined the US Coast Guard to evacuate stranded victims from Manhattan Island after...

Is summer gone for good with the arrival of this week's rain? And a look at who's on the river today. A look at our evolving weather - is summer over? And a peek at local ship traffic, with an overview of the kinds of ships we see here on the Columbia.

Wheat R Us: our river system is the the nation’s single largest wheat export gateway If you hear me talk a lot about wheat on the Ship Report, there's a good reason: most ships are carrying it. That's beause the Columbia-Snake River System is the nation's single largest wheat export gateway. That's a lot of wheat, and valuable commerce to drive the region's economy.

Interesting vessel on the river today: the USNS Eagleview This morning around 7 am, the USNS Eagleview leaves the shipyard at Swan Island heading downriver and out to sea, probably passing Astoria around 1 pm. She's a USNS vessel - that means Military Sealift Command, but she's smaller in size than most of the MSC ships we see here, but she fills big shoes in her support role as an "a...

Who's on the river today? And a bit about weather and sea state A look at today's ship schedule - who's coming and going on the river? And a look at our marine weather and how wind affects sea state.

A new hometown USCG cutter for Astoria: the USCGC Florence Finch is in town Down at the 17th St dock by the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a brand new Coast Guard vessel, and she's here to stay. The USCGC Florence Finch is the second new cutter to be assigned to Astoria this year. The David Durien was our first. They replace the two departing cutters, the Alert and Steadfast, who were reass...

With the advent of September, a look at the "two autumns" Some folks say it's already fall, while others day it won't happen till Sept 22nd. We'll take a look at who's right - and it turns out they both are. As with many things, it depends on how you look at it. Today we'll talk about the difference between meterological and astronomical autumn. Show transcript: http:...

A look at today's ships, our shorter days, and an update on that burning tanker in the Red Sea Today's show features a look at who's on the river, a reminder that days are getting shorter as fall approaches, and an update on what's to become of that burning oil tanker in the Red Sea.

A story of survival on the Columbia River Bar On this day, 52 years ago, a commercial fishing boat sank on the Columbia River Bar. KMUN comentator Michael McCusker was aboard. He and his crewmates survived, thanks to the quick intervention of fellow mariners. I've shared his story before on the show, but not on the anniversary of its occurrence. Today we take a closer look. We commemorate the...

Washington ports get electrification grants to provide dockside power for vessels In the industry it's called "cold ironing" - the capacity of a port to provide electric hookups for arriving ships and other vessels. Ports that are so equipped, and ships that are configured to plug in, can reduce air pollution significantly while in port. Soon, 11 Washington ports, including, locally,...

Mililtary Sealift Command proposes sidelining vessels The Military Sealift Command, which has ships stationed on the Columbia, has proposed sidelining 17 of its ships to address a dwindling workforce of mariners. The situation reflects a wider trend worldwide, especially since the pandemic, where sailors simply don't want to be away from home for months, with often mediocre compensation, and n...

Red Sea tanker attack highlights international risks Right now, a crude oil tanker is ablaze in the Red Sea after an attack by Houthi forces. If the ship sinks, it could create a massive environmental disaster. The ripple effects from this incident show how what happens in one part of the world can affect people elsewhere, and how any ship presents a risk that marine professionals are careful to p...

A look at ships and cargo on the river today A look at ships and their cargo on the river today.

It's fall cruise ship season in Astoria Today we'll see the first of five cruise ships that will visit Astoria over the next couple of months.

An overview of ships and cargo Today, a quick overview of what comes and goes on the river here, in terms of ships and cargo.

An icebreaker joins the USCG Alaska fleet The US Coast Guard has purchased the Aiviq, a commercial icebreaker previously used to support Arctic oil production operations. She'll become a medium icebreaker for the USCG and will be berthed in Juneau. The Aiviq will be ready for Coast Guard service in about two years. Transcript here:  http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript082024.pdf

Autumn is in the air, and with it, thoughts of the Beaufort Wind Scale With some tempestuous weather happening the past few days, and that feeling in the air, we all know that fall is not far away even though it's still summer. Seems like a good time to revisit the Beaufort Wind Scale, a reference table dating back to the 1700s that is still in use today. It allows mariners and land dwellers t...

Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership receives EPA grant for local projects Today we'll talk about a large grant that the EPA just awarded to a local environmental group, the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, funding the group's work to enhance communities and address watershed needs in our region posed by issues like sea level rise and other challenges. The grant is part of a massive fundi...

A military vessel named Bob Hope with an interesting history Today, an unusual vessel arrives on the Columbia: the Bob Hope, a military car carrier. We'll talk about her interesting history and the military agencies that have used and continue to use her services. One of the many military ships we see often on the river.

A look at car carriers Today we take a look at an often-seen, odd-looking and highly effective vessel here on the Columbia: the amazing car carrier, whose purpose is to carry vehicles. Without them, most of us would not have a car to drive. Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/SRTranscript081424.pdf