The Ship Report

Fisher Poets Remembered: Harrison "Smitty" Smith Today, again, we honor past Fisher Poet greats. Harrison "Smitty" Smith was a Fisher Poet Gathering icon who was a performer at the very first gathering in 1998. He died in 2012 at the age of 86, but his wonderful work lives on.

Fisher Poets remembered: Jon Campbell Today and tomorrow, we'll take a look at some great past artists of Fisher Poet fame, as the annual Fisher Poets Gathering approaches, happening this weekend in Astoria. Today we honor Jon Campbell of Rhode Island, one of the very best to ever grace the stage.

Today's ship schedule A  look at today's ship schedule - the comings and goings on the river.

The Desdemona Sands lighthouse: a bit of lower Columbia history Today, in answer to a listener question, we take a look at the long and illustrious history of lighted navigational aids and rescue stations on the lower Columbia between Astoria and the ocean. In particular, we'll delve into the history of the once proud (and quite useful) Desdemona Sands Lighthouse, which stood on pilings in the...

A look at today's ship schedule Today, to round out the week, we'll take a look at today's ship schedule, and talk a little about the cargo ship, the Manila Trader, that is still at the Port of Astoria for repairs.

Latest on Oregon Offshore Wind Projects The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, BOEM, released the latest info this week on the proposed floating offshore wind energy projects slated for southern Oregon coastal waters. Even after a lengthy public comment period last fall, stakeholders like tribes and commercial fishermen still say they aren't being heard. A 30-day public comment period opens th...

But wait, there's more!... Part 3 of A Bit about Tugboats... A timely listener question led me into another interesting line of thought about tugboats and how they control their barges, and so... I bring you: A Bit about Tugboats on the Ship Report, Part 3...

A Bit about Tugboats, Part 2 Yesterday we started talking about tugboats, and there was so much to say that I decided to to do a second episode. Tugboats are the maritime essence of the saying, "big things in small packages." Today, among other things, a story about how tugs helped a big ship dock safely in heavy current in a port in British Columbia. Today we'll hear Part 2 of &quot...

A Bit about Tugboats, Part 1 Today I'll answer a listener question about tugboats on the river. It's an interesting and broad subject, so much so that I had too much to share to fit into just one show. So today is Part 1 of "A Bit about Tugboats on the Ship Report." Tugboats haul cargo on barges on rivers and oceans, and assist tugs in port. They are vital in the maritime industr...

Two hometown ships leave Astoria for good Two familiar ships, the USCG cutters Steadfast and Alert, will soon be leaving Astoria for good. The reasons for each ship's departure are different, but we'll miss seeing them grace our waterfront by the Columbia River Maritime Museum. We'll talk about why these beloved vessels will no longer be here on the Columbia.

Ship at the Port of Astoria for repairs Today we'll take a look at our ship schedule on the river, including a bulk carrier that is at the Port of Astoria for engine repairs.

One more time...Red sky at night, sailors' delight? With profound apologies to listeners who heard the wrong show yesterday, I apologize for my "operator error." So, once more with feeling, here is the show that should have aired yesterday (with updated ship traffic and weather). Today we take a look, thanks to a listener question, at an old nautical saying that goes, "Red sky a...

The Lightship Columbia: a maritime hero in our midst Sitting quietly by the dock on the waterfront in Astoria is a ship that once played a vital and sometimes heroic role in the region's history: the Lightship Columbia. She's now an exhibit at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, but back in the day - she was a beacon and a refuge for sailors negotiating the intimidating and treacherous Col...

Our dynamic marine environment More about our problematic and perhaps confusing weather this week, as Hazardous Seas warnings continue today offshore, while conditions on land are pretty bland. We'll talk about why it's so important to keep your wits about you on land or sea when you are on or near the water. Things are always changing, in ways that can spell disaster for the uninformed an...

Hazardous seas make for a rough start to crabbing season Today is the first day that Dungeness crabbers in OR and WA can pull their pots, baited traps they set to "soak" in the ocean on Monday in the hopes they will be full of crab today. But the weather has chosen to make things difficult for fishermen at sea today: the National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Seas Warning for area w...

USCG medevac from bulk carrier highlights protocols around medical emergencies Last week, two crew members were medevaced off a cargo ship by the USCG, as it transited the Columbia River. The incident offers a good opportunity to talk about the way crew changes happen on ships, and what happens to a crew member who is left behind in the hospital when his or her ship leaves to head to its next port...

As the crab fleet goes to sea, more hard work awaits As our Dungeness crab fleets up and down the coast head out to sea, our Ilwaco crabbers are especially on our minds. They worked so hard to get to the point where they could make this season opener happen, after a devastating facility fire destroyed equipment last week. Their reward is more hard work, in the year's worst weather. Today we&#3...

Crabpot "Dump Day" becomes a symbol of victory over tragedy Ilwaco, Washington's Dungeness crab fleet headed out to sea in the wee hours this morning, to start dropping baited crab pots ahead of the Thursday season opener here. Today is "dump day" - the day crabbers can legally start dropping pots, so they can harvest them on Thursday, they hope, full of crab. The fleet&#39...

Efforts continue to help Ilwaco's commercial crabbing fleet After a stunningly successful week of fundraising and gear-gathering, community efforts to help Ilwaco, Washington's Dungeness crab fleet regroup, after a devastating fire, seem to be well on their way. What remains now is to get that gear rigged and baited in time for a Monday "presoak" deadline. That's the day when...

Neighbors helping neighbors On Monday, a devastating fire destroyed a commercial fishing facility in Ilwaco, Washington, along with thousands of Dungeness crabpots belonging to Ilwaco's fishing fleet. With just a week till the opening of the crabbing season, things looked bleak. But a far-reaching and effective community response from other PNW fishermen, and the public, to gather gear and rai...

Ilwaco Cannery fire wreaks havoc on PNW coastal fishing community On Monday, a devastating fire destroyed the historic Ilwaco Landing Cannery building on the waterfront in the fishing community of Ilwaco, Washington. The building and dock were gutted, and thousands of Dungeness crab pots destroyed. It was a crushing blow to the local fishing community, slated to open the local crab season on Febru...

Unusual ship on the river today Today we'll talk about the USNS VADM KR Wheeler, a special kind of vessel that can pump fuel via a portable pipeline to land from miles offshore. She is owned by the Navy and is used to support US military operations. The Wheeler is headed to the Portland shipyard to a drydock there.

Who's on the river today? After a bout of dangerously cold weather, it’s nice to see ships moving again on the river. We’ll take a look at who’s on the river today, and what they’re carrying to and from ports.

A look at how and why ships appear on the daily schedule A listener wrote in asking to better understand what he was seeing on the ship schedule, and how and why ships appear, and don't appear, on the list from day to day.

Microclimates In this latest round of freezing weather, it seemed like different places, often close together, had really different weather and conditions. Part of the reason could be microclimates, where different areas experience the same weather system differently.