The Ship Report

A look at weather and ships, as we shoulder another atmospheric river A few basics about what happens at sea and on the river when the weather gets problematic for vessels. There can be delays - and when ships finally move again can depend on a complex mix of factors related to weather, sea state and tides.

How do ships choose what speed to travel in the river? This may seem like an obvious question (they slow down), but the answer is actually quite complex. Today we'll talk about ship speed in enclosed environments, about things like current and tides, and about some more obscure aspects of the physics of water that heavily affect ships in rivers.

Cold front could bring low land snow, gales We're looking at an unusual cold weather event through today, with cold air coming down from Alaska. That could bring inland snow, and maybe some light snow/flurries to the coast. The marine weather forecast includes the potential for gale force winds. Overall it will be a wet week - a good thing for mitigating drought and fire risk later in the year...

Honoring Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler Jaggers In a tragic follow up to last Thursday's show, we'll talk about the passing of Tyler Jaggers, the US Coast Guard rescue swimmer who was gravely injured in a accident in Late February. The incident happened while Jaggers and his fellow helicopter crew members were attempting to rescue a stroke victim from a bulk carrier that was operating of...

US Coast Guard rescue swimmer seriously injured in offshore accident A US Coast Guard rescue swimmer was seriously injured in an accident during the course of a rescue mission last Friday. As of earlier this week, he was on life support in a British Columbia hospital. We'll talk about the important role rescue swimmers and all Coast Guard personnel play in keeping us safe in challenging condit...

How winds spin in weather systems I learned something interesting the other day - that winds spin differently in different kinds of weather systems. It has to do with the Coriolis Effect and air pressure. An interesting look at "how things work" in weather.

A look at what makes an outbound ship seem different Today we'll look at the ship schedule and talk about why outbound ships can look so different you might think it's another kind of vessel altogether. Also, a look at tides and the moon - and a lunar eclipse.

Why you should never go between a tug and a barge at sea Today we'll do a quick debrief on this past weekend's 29th annual Fisher Poets Gathering, and then we`ll address an important maritime issue that can be a matter of life or death: why you should never get between a tug and its tow at sea, or on the river.

A look at life in the US Coast Guard Today we'll hear more from my interview with Len Tumbarello, who is currently the executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots. Earlier in his life, he spent 28 years in the US Coast Guard, a career he really loved. Today we'll talk about what a career in the Coast Guard can be like.

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots - Part 3 Today we hear Part 3 of my interview with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots. We're talking about pilot risk, which comes in many forms. Pilots are a lot like first responders, in that they have to be ready for the unexpected at all times and be ready to respond in a timely and effective manner, sometimes at great...

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots - Part 2 Today we continue listening to excerpts from an interview I did recently with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots, the public body that oversees operations for the Columbia River Bar and River Pilot organizations, as well as maritime pilots in Coos Bar and Newport.

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots, Part 1 I'll be away this week for a little time off, and I'll be featuring excerpts this week on the show from a recent interview I did with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots. We'll be taking a look at this vital organization and talking about a subset of the maritime industry that passes by our doors daily here o...

Snow in the forecast again through Thursday morning We'll see what transpires... the forecast calls for snow above 500 feet. For coastal snow lovers, maybe some pretty flurries. Inland, expect some driving challenges in the morning.

A bit of snow is possible... We're looking at the possibility of some snow between the coast and Portland later this week. Keep your eyes peeled and watch forecasts. And if you're razor clamming on the beach, bundle up and watch for sneaker waves.

A look at the forecast: more snow? Well, we had a tiny "snowpocalypse" in Astoria Monday and Tuesday - and by that I mean short periods of intense snow that were really cool and pretty (for those of us who love snow) but disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Will there be more? We'll take a look at the forecast for the rest of the week. And some ships...

The bulbous bow: an odd-looking, but very efficient, ship design feature There's a unusual-looking ship design feature that's on pretty much all the ships that arrive here on the Columbia. When a ship is loaded, it's out of sight below the waterline, but on ships that are waiting for cargo, like in anchorages, you can sometimes see it. It's called the bulbous bow. It looks like a r...

Gulls and updrafts: why these birds seem to love the Megler Bridge Today we'll talk a little about the movement of air, birds, and why the Astoria Megler Bridge is a great place to watch certain kinds of birds fairly close up, as they soar near the roadway. And why, according to birders, you really shouldn't refer to a gull as a "seagull."

Sneaker wave risk this week reminds us of cold water hazards at the beach We'll have a sneaker wave beach hazard statement in effect later this week for our region, and it's a good opportunity to remind folks that sneaker wave risk is real, and potentially deadly. Even more so when the ocean water is so cold, as it is right now.

The plumb bow: an interesting design feature on newer ships Today we'll talk about a familiar sight these days on the waterfront: a ship with a plumb or straight up and down bow. There are reasons for this design feature, and we'll talk about some of them.

The HOS Black Watch: high tech offshore supply vessel on the river today Today we have an vessel on the river, one of a type that we don't see very often. She's the HOS Black Watch, one of a kind of vessel that's used in special projects worldwide. It's called an Offshore Supply Vessel - a jack of all trades craft that can assist with tricky offshore projects assisting oil rigs and...

Seafarer survey shows many sailors find life at sea stressful A new study published in 2025 by World Maritime University, says "persistently long working hours, limited opportunities for rest and shore leave, and high levels of work-related stress" among sailors is a matter of serious concern in the maritime industry. The survey included about 4500 respondents across 99 countries, includ...

A long workday on the river heading to Portland While we see ships pass by Astoria and other areas on the river, that's only a fraction of their workday when they cross the Columbia Rive Bar. A transit can take and entire standard workday - 8 hours - a long trip for crews who have already spend several weeks at sea to get here.

How ships fit into the global supply chain, and a look at who's on the river today We see ships coming and going every day, and while they are interesting to look at, they also represent an important part of the wider web of global trade, and are responsible for bring us goods we use in our every day lives. So, ships are truly meaningful to you and me, whether we realize it or not.

Rising sea heights could affect ship traffic on Thursday With rain, gales and elevated sea heights in the forecast, it's another interesting opportunity to talk about weather and how it affects ships crossing between the vast ocean and the turbulent river.

Big ship schedule today - let's talk about it! We have a sizeable ship schedule today and some interesting vessels arriving from far flung places.