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!

COVID-19: Locally, we are flattening the curve

Today on the Ship Report we look again at the situation in Florida, where the USCG has declined to airlift sick passengers off cruise ships because local medical facilities are flooded with COVID-19 patients. Locally here in Clatsop County, Oregon, our local officials...
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USCG limits air rescues of ill passengers from foreign flag ships

The USCG issued a marine bulletin this week for it's 7th District, which includes the cruise ship hub of Florida, along with Puerto Rico, Georgia and South Carolina. The temporary change means that if someone needs to be airlifted off a cruise ship because of illness,...
More

How is international cargo changing with COVID-19?

Markets are shifting to adjust to the new normal with COVID-19 hitting some markets hard and helping others.
More

Ship handling continued

More on shiphandling - how to wrangle vessels at sea.
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USCG Coronavirus precautions

I've gotten some questions from listeners about ships arriving in the Columbia River from China, and possible Coronavirus risks. So I contacted our local USCG folks at Air Station Astoria, where the Captain of the Port for the Columbia is located. Here's their reply:...
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Columbia River Ship Traffic

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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

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Maritime
NOAA
Photos
Tsunami
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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.

The Ship Report

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Ship Report Podcasts

COVID-19: Locally, we are flattening the curve

Today on the Ship Report we look again at the situation in Florida, where the USCG has declined to airlift sick passengers off cruise ships because local medical facilities are flooded with COVID-19 patients. Locally here in Clatsop County, Oregon, our local officials...
Listen

USCG limits air rescues of ill passengers from foreign flag ships

The USCG issued a marine bulletin this week for it's 7th District, which includes the cruise ship hub of Florida, along with Puerto Rico, Georgia and South Carolina. The temporary change means that if someone needs to be airlifted off a cruise ship because of illness,...
Listen

How is international cargo changing with COVID-19?

Markets are shifting to adjust to the new normal with COVID-19 hitting some markets hard and helping others.
Listen

Mariner COVID risk

While mariners are considered essential services during the pandemic, and are still working, that doesn't mean they don't face risks.
Listen

USCG’s first all female helicopter crew

This month the Coast Guard recognized it's first all female helicopter crew, based in Humboldt Bay, California.
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.