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!

Carbon neutral

Shipping industry news is increasingly about efforts within the industry to reduce carbon emissions from ships, being done voluntarily by big international shippers like Maersk. Today we hear about a ship that took a long journey using biofuel, and an international...
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Wind turbine blades inbound

This morning we saw the project cargo ship Combi Dock I pass by Astoria headed for Vancouver, loaded for bear with 98 wind turbine blades, for a PacificCorp wind power upgrade project in eastern Washington.
More

Today is the summer solstice: what does that mean?

Today is the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and south of the equator, the start of winter.
More

Container ship security

A huge drug bust on a container ship in Philadelphia highlights a flaw in US cargo security: only a small fraction of the millions of shipping containers that enter the U.S. annually are inspected.
More

The Poseidon Principles

International banks that lend billions to companies that want to build cargo ships have laid down the law to shippers: comply with the Paris Climate Accord regarding ship emissions goals, or they won't lend them money to build ships.
More

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

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

Carbon neutral

Shipping industry news is increasingly about efforts within the industry to reduce carbon emissions from ships, being done voluntarily by big international shippers like Maersk. Today we hear about a ship that took a long journey using biofuel, and an international...
Listen

Wind turbine blades inbound

This morning we saw the project cargo ship Combi Dock I pass by Astoria headed for Vancouver, loaded for bear with 98 wind turbine blades, for a PacificCorp wind power upgrade project in eastern Washington.
Listen

Today is the summer solstice: what does that mean?

Today is the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and south of the equator, the start of winter.
Listen

Container ship security

A huge drug bust on a container ship in Philadelphia highlights a flaw in US cargo security: only a small fraction of the millions of shipping containers that enter the U.S. annually are inspected.
Listen

The Poseidon Principles

International banks that lend billions to companies that want to build cargo ships have laid down the law to shippers: comply with the Paris Climate Accord regarding ship emissions goals, or they won't lend them money to build ships.
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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Quick Guide to Shipwatching

Fisher Poet’s Gathering CD

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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.