The Ship Report

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 9, 2026 For some folks, seeing a list of ships coming in and out of the river is just that - a list. When I look at them, I see all kinds of details that I've learned from many conversations I've had over the years with career mariners in our region and beyond. I've soaked up what they told me, because I found it fascinating. It's rewarding for me to...

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Today we’ll talk about how we can look for clues in the marine environment right in front of us, or use readily available information, to keep us safe and enjoying life as we use the river and ocean beaches. We’ll talk about some things locals know that allow them to work with, instead of against, the immense power of the Columbia River and the ocean.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, July 7, 2026 It's another unseen piece of the maritime industry puzzle: how do ships get cargoes on and off. We'll take a look at some of the most common practices.

The Ship Report, Monday, July 7, 2026 Today we have a small ship schedule, and that presents two opportunities for me here: to reassure you that a day here and there with fewer ships is not a trend. It’s just what happens. And also, I have a chance to use this time to look at the ships that are here in more depth. There’s a lot of interesting detail to talk about. Let’s take a look…

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 2, 2026 This week we're celebrating the birthday of legendary ship captain and maritime pilot Captain Deborah Dempsey. She was a Columbia River Bar Pilot for decades here in Astoria. She sailed around the world as the master of big ships. And from her admission into the Maine Maritime Academy in the 1970s to her hiring as a bar pilot, her life as been filled wit...

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Today I'll answer a couple of listener questions about what it means when ship traffic numbers are low (hint: not much on a given day), and a question about car ships and why they never seem to look different whether they have loaded or unloaded cargo (the secret decoder phrase is: ballast water).

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Today, an "unusual ship alert" for a unique US Coast Guard ship that we hardly ever see on the Columbia. The USCG Cutter Healy, the Guard's largest ship and an icebreaker, has been at the Portland Vigor shipyard since January for maintenance and repairs. She heads downriver and out to sea today. We'll talk about her unusual mission and capa...

The Ship Report, June 29, 2026 It was in the “ordinary things we take for granted that are quite important” department: the National Weather Service on Sunday suddenly did not have weather forecasts available to the public on their website, thanks to an IT issue. As they worked to fix it, we went a few hours without updated weather info. Maybe not the end of the world in most cases, but for folks...

The Ship Report, Thursday, June 25, 2026 Continuing the theme of ships in the anchorage this week, I thought I would share another listener question about anchored ships. It has to do with a frequent choice ships make, which is to deploy the anchor on the port side instead of the starboard side when anchoring off Astoria. It's an interesting question with an equally interesting answer, that sh...

The Ship Report, Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Today I'll answer a listener question about why anchored ships can look so disorganized. It happens when the tide is changing on the river. It's a good question that involves water flow, natural systems, and reflects the complex and amazing place we live in.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 The amazing anchor chain Ships sitting calmly in the anchorage are actually far from still: they're doing a slow dance around an ingenious anchor and chain system that works in strong currents, acting like a spring, to protect the ship and keep it stable.

The Ship Report, Monday, June 22, 2026 Today, an update on the ocean sensors story from last week, and a look at how wind and tide greatly affect river conditions - something to pay attention to if you're going out in a boat.

The Ship Report, Thursday, June 18, 2026 It might seem like a ship is just moseying by on its way up or downriver, but the truth is a lot of planning and scheduling goes into the movements of every ship on the Columbia. Today we'll talk about the factors at play, and the strategies our professionals use to keep ships, people and cargo safe on the river.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, June 17, 2026 Today I'll share a story that's a follow-up to Monday's program on ocean sensors. It's about how some US senators are now responding to the news that National Science Foundation ocean sensors are being removed from our waters off Newport and Grays Harbor. And I'll share the results of an afternoon of research, in my attempt to answer a...

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Two local people drowned this weekend, one on the Willamette River, and one on the Columbia. Today we’ll talk about factors in our area waters that can make doing relatively normal recreational activities a life-threatening hazard.

The Ship Report: Monday, June 15, 2026 Today we'll talk about the removal of National Science Foundation Pacific ocean data sensors off the coast of Oregon and Washington this week, a move scientists say will cripple their ability to know what's happening in the ocean, as a record breaking El Nino is expected to hit the region this summer.

The Ship Report, Thursday, June 11, 2026 Today we'll take a look at our glorious weather forecast with a caveat: the water in the ocean and our rivers is about as cold as cold tap water. Try it. Too cold for swimming really, but more to the point: just right for hypothermia and cold water shock.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Today we'll talk about a wonderful worldwide network, called AMVER(Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue), originally created by the US Coast Guard. AMVER brings together ships at sea and mariners in trouble way off shore, making far-flung rescues possible that coastal response agencies worldwide would not have the resources to handle. In this case...

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Today we'll talk about (and hear) some of the most familiar things we experience here on the river: rain, ships and fog horns.

The Ship Report, Monday, June 8, 2026 Today we'll talk about the Rose Festival Fleet ships leaving the seawall in Portland, where they spent the weekend giving tours to visitors. They are the US Navy destroyer USS Chafee, and the Canadian Navy ship the HMCS Max Bernays. They'll depart along with another military ship, the USNS Watkins, which has been in Astoria the past few days. We'll...

The Ship Report, Thursday, June 4, 2026 Fleet Week Thursday: Tours begin on Rose Festival Ships in Portland One final wrap up today on the Rose Festival Fleet which begins tours today in Portland. Ships are located on the seawall in Tom McCall Park, 10-4. Get there early because tours end promptly at 4 and if you are waiting on land at 4 you may not get in.  And I also wanted to share again that I...

The Ship Report, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Fleet Week Wednesday – Rose Festival Fleet Week ships arrive in Portland All of the ships arriving from offshore heading to Portland are now in the River. Today we will look at the ships that will be in Portland this weekend for the Rose Festival. We’ll also talk about what happens when visiting ships arrive in Portland, and how they are greeted, with open...

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Fleet Week Tuesday Ships are starting to arrive in the river for the Portland Rose Festival; they’re the part of the festival referred to as Fleet Week. I’ll be tracking the ships as they arrive and sharing that information here. Today two ships head upriver: the Canadian Navy ship the HMCS Max Bernays passed Astoria inbound this morning to Portland and will...

The Ship Report, Monday, June 1, 2026 It’s Rose Festival Fleet week on the Columbia This week we’ll begin seeing ships arriving to head to Portland for the Rose Festival as part of the Festival Fleet. One ship is already in town on Astoria: the USS Chafee, a Navy destroyer, which will head to Portland around midnight tonight. I’ll announce other ships as they appear on the schedule and include the...

Thursday, May 28, 2026 We see a lot of the same kinds of ships here, going to a set series of places. Today we'll talk about the different kinds of ships, and ports, we see here locally, and the inland water highway that makes much of our commerce possible.