The Ship Report is All Things Maritime!

Ship Report podcasts take you to a special corner of the world: the Mighty Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. Nautical lore, news and info, mariner interviews, daily international ship traffic, and the inside scoop on our formidable marine weather. Join maritime journalist Joanne Rideout on the Ship Report, as we explore the fascinating nautical world, on the Upper Left Edge of Oregon and beyond.  The Ship Report is proud to celebrate 16 years on the air!

Magnetic north on the move

Scientists have known for a long time that magnetic north moves fro place to place. But its migration has sped up in recent years. That could have a big effect on mariners, and folks on land with smart phones.
More

Rescue drone could save lives

A new rescue drone, called E.M.I.L.Y., can be deployed from the beach to rescue people in trouble in the water. The Long Beach Peninsula has one. It could be a boon for people caught in a rip current.
More

Buoy 10 fishery, Part 6

Today we conclude our chat with Columbia River Bar Pilot Dan Jordan about risks for ships and boats on the river during the August salmon season. Today we talk more about how ship speed is deceiving, and is easy to misjudge - and how that can lead to close calls.
More

Buoy 10 Fishery, Part 5

Another excerpt from my interview with Columbia River Bar Pilot Capt. Dan Jordan about the Buoy 10 salmon fishery and the unique risks it poses for small boats and huge ships.
More

Buoy 10 fishery, Part 4

Each summer on the river marine pilots worry about small boats who get in the way of big ships as they try to land a big salmon. Columbia River Bar Pilot Capt. Dan Jordan shares more tips on how to stay safe on the river.
More

Columbia River Ship Traffic

GO

Approximate Vessel Travel Times

(Times vary according to tidal conditions, current, weather, and individual vessel horsepower)

  • Portland/Vancouver -Astoria: 6-8 hours
  • Kalama -Astoria: 5 hours
  • Longview -Astoria: 3.5 hours
  • Columbia River Bar – Astoria: 1.5 hours

Water Speed & Currents

Curated Links

Arts
Local
Maritime
NOAA
Photos
Tsunami
Video

Tides

When’s High Tide where you are?  Find Tidal info at www.saltwatertides.com

Tide times are often listed in 24 hour time.  For times after noon, subtract 1200 from the time to get regular clock time. Ex: 1300 hrs – 1200 = 1:00 pm)

MLLW:  Also, tides are referenced to Mean Lower Low Water, a reference point for depth on many nautical charts. MLLW is the average of the lower of the two low tides in a day, over a 19-year cycle. Minus tides are lower than MLLW.

Adjustments: If you’re right on the coast, subtract an hour from these times. Upriver, highs and lows happen later. For instance, in Knappa, add an hour. In Clatskanie, add 2 hours and 15 minutes.

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Ship Report Podcasts

Magnetic north on the move

Scientists have known for a long time that magnetic north moves fro place to place. But its migration has sped up in recent years. That could have a big effect on mariners, and folks on land with smart phones.
Listen

Rescue drone could save lives

A new rescue drone, called E.M.I.L.Y., can be deployed from the beach to rescue people in trouble in the water. The Long Beach Peninsula has one. It could be a boon for people caught in a rip current.
Listen

Buoy 10 fishery, Part 6

Today we conclude our chat with Columbia River Bar Pilot Dan Jordan about risks for ships and boats on the river during the August salmon season. Today we talk more about how ship speed is deceiving, and is easy to misjudge - and how that can lead to close calls.
Listen

Buoy 10 Fishery, Part 5

Another excerpt from my interview with Columbia River Bar Pilot Capt. Dan Jordan about the Buoy 10 salmon fishery and the unique risks it poses for small boats and huge ships.
Listen

Buoy 10 fishery, Part 4

Each summer on the river marine pilots worry about small boats who get in the way of big ships as they try to land a big salmon. Columbia River Bar Pilot Capt. Dan Jordan shares more tips on how to stay safe on the river.
Listen
10-Minute Ship Reports: Monday through Thursday, featuring  Daily Ship Traffic, Marine Weather, News and Interviews

Ship Report Minutes:  On Fridays, where we answer listener questions. Short and sweet!

The Ship Report is also broadcast Weekdays at 8:49 am on Coast Community Radio Astoria, Oregon

coastradio.org

Columbia River Bar

Pacific NW Coast Bar Closure Info from NOAA.

Also on Facebook and Twitter(US Coast Guard).

“Pilot transfer” is when a pilot disembarks or boards a ship. Ships generally must by law have a river or bar pilot on board when they are on the Columbia or Willamette Rivers. The bar and river pilots have separate pilotage grounds defined by the Oregon Legislature.

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Meet Joanne Rideout

Producer Joanne Rideout is a journalist and photographer who created The Ship Report in 2003. Since then Joanne and has been interviewing, writing and photographing the maritime world and its interesting people as much as she possibly can.

Ship Horn Signals

Commonly Heard off Astoria

One prolonged blast every two minutes or less: vessel operating in fog.

Five consecutive horn blasts: warning signal that means literally “I do not know your intention.” This generally means another vessel is in the way of a ship in the channel, and is being asked to move before they collide.

Three short blasts: Vessel going in reverse

One long blast followed by three short: signal for the change of pilots. Soon after this signal, you’ll see the pilot launch Arrow II head out to a passing ship, to facilitate the transfer of bar and river pilots.