More on dredging

Mar 20, 2024

There’s so much to talk about when it comes to dredging the river… so here’s more nuts and bolts of dredging as a follow up to Monday’s program. We’ll talk about how deep the channels are, other channels on the Columbia besides the main ship channel, and why the Columbia will never be able to accommodate some ships that are just too big.

More on dredging

More on dredging

There’s so much to talk about when it comes to dredging the river… so here’s more nuts and bolts of dredging as a follow up to Monday’s program. We’ll talk about how deep the channels are, other channels on the Columbia besides the main ship channel, and why the Columbia will never be able to accommodate some ships that are just too big.

The present and future of ship emissions

Mar 19, 2024

Sharp-eyed ship watchers concerned about pollution noticed a ship traveling in the river yesterday, emitting what looked like smoke from its stack. As it turns out, seeing that was good news, since it shows the ship has an emission scrubber on board, and what folks saw was mostly steam.

But that sighting opens the door to talk about recent international regulations that have reduced pollution in shipping, with plans for even more reductions by 2050.

The present and future of ship emissions

The present and future of ship emissions

Sharp-eyed ship watchers concerned about pollution noticed a ship traveling in the river yesterday, emitting what looked like smoke from its stack. As it turns out, seeing that was good news, since it shows the ship has an emission scrubber on board, and what folks saw was mostly steam.

But that sighting opens the door to talk about recent international regulations that have reduced pollution in shipping, with plans for even more reductions by 2050.

Dredging on the Columbia, and a new beneficial use for dredge spoils

Mar 18, 2024

Today the answer to a listener question about dredging on the Columbia River, and a look at new beneficial use for dredge spoils: the many tons of sediment vacuumed off the river bottom annually.

Dredging on the Columbia, and a new beneficial use for dredge spoils

Dredging on the Columbia, and a new beneficial use for dredge spoils

Today the answer to a listener question about dredging on the Columbia River, and a look at new beneficial use for dredge spoils: the many tons of sediment vacuumed off the river bottom annually.

The rhyme and reason of ship names

Mar 15, 2024

Today we’ll talk about a ship in the Astoria Anchorage that’s garnered some attention lately because of her name: the bulk carrier Kobayashi Maru is out there waiting to go upriver and pick up her cargo.

That’s prompted shipwatchers locally to wonder whether she was named by a zealous Star Trek fan, or whether her name is simply a charming term of endearment in Japanese.

The whole thing offers a great excuse to talk about ship names, so that’s what we’ll do today.

The rhyme and reason of ship names

The rhyme and reason of ship names

Today we’ll talk about a ship in the Astoria Anchorage that’s garnered some attention lately because of her name: the bulk carrier Kobayashi Maru is out there waiting to go upriver and pick up her cargo.

That’s prompted shipwatchers locally to wonder whether she was named by a zealous Star Trek fan, or whether her name is simply a charming term of endearment in Japanese.

The whole thing offers a great excuse to talk about ship names, so that’s what we’ll do today.

Abandoned ships and crews: a global problem

Mar 14, 2024

Today, a listener question about a dilapidated looking ship in the Astoria Anchorage. Does a ship’s appearance signal problems on board? Possibly, but not necessarily. She could just need a good paint job. The ocean is hard on ships.

However, the question speaks to what’s become a global issue: ships being abandoned by their owners with crew on board. In some places in the world it’s reached crisis proportions. And at least once, it happened here.

The rhyme and reason of ship names

Abandoned ships and crews: a global problem

Today, a listener question about a dilapidated looking ship in the Astoria Anchorage. Does a ship’s appearance signal problems on board? Possibly, but not necessarily. She could just need a good paint job. The ocean is hard on ships.

However, the question speaks to what’s become a global issue: ships being abandoned by their owners with crew on board. In some places in the world it’s reached crisis proportions. And at least once, it happened here.

Trouble at the Suez and Panama canals affects the whole world

Mar 13, 2024

Today we’ll take a look at how and why recent shipping troubles at the Suez Canal and Panama canals affect us all.

Ships now must use alternate strategies to get around two of the most vital waterways in the world, and the effect could be higher inflation and increased costs for consumers.

Photo: Locomotives Tow Container Ship through Miraflores Locks – Panama Canal – Panama.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons: Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Trouble at the Suez and Panama canals affects the whole world

Trouble at the Suez and Panama canals affects the whole world

Today we’ll take a look at how and why recent shipping troubles at the Suez Canal and Panama canals affect us all.

Ships now must use alternate strategies to get around two of the most vital waterways in the world, and the effect could be higher inflation and increased costs for consumers.

Photo: Locomotives Tow Container Ship through Miraflores Locks – Panama Canal – Panama.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons: Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons