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 20 years on the air!

Vessel agent: an essential professional role in river commerce

This week we're looking at the role of vessel agents in river commerce. They are a vital part of the shoreside industry that processes arriving and departing ships.
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This week: a look at the profession of vessel agent, a vital role in the realm of river commerce

This week we'll hear excerpts from an interview I did with Columbia River vessel agent Christ Lee Dunham. Her job is essential to the efficient transit of cargo ships on the river.
More

Stormy weather at sea

A look back in the Ship Report archives at an interview I did with Capt. Robert Johnson in the early 2000s, about what it's like aboard a ship, from the captain's perspective, when their vessel is caught in a storm.
More

Who’s on the river today?

A look at today's ship traffic, which includes a domestic petroleum tanker, a military vessel and the usual complement of bulk carriers. Ships traveling 24/7 on the river as usual.
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Shipbreaking: a necessary and problematic industry

Today, in answer to a listener question, a look at a troubling but necessary industry: shipbreaking. Where do old ships go to die? The answer mostly is to a shipbreaking yard somewhere in South Asia, to countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. We'll talk about...
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Columbia River Ship Traffic

GO
Approximate Vessel Travel Times
  • Portland/Vancouver -Astoria: 6-8 hours
  • Kalama -Astoria: 5 hours
  • Longview -Astoria: 3.5 hours
  • Columbia River Bar – Astoria: 1.5 hours
Times vary according to tidal conditions, current, weather, and individual vessel horsepower.
Water Speed & Currents

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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.

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Ship Report Podcasts

Vessel agent: an essential professional role in river commerce

This week we're looking at the role of vessel agents in river commerce. They are a vital part of the shoreside industry that processes arriving and departing ships.
Listen

This week: a look at the profession of vessel agent, a vital role in the realm of river commerce

This week we'll hear excerpts from an interview I did with Columbia River vessel agent Christ Lee Dunham. Her job is essential to the efficient transit of cargo ships on the river.
Listen

Stormy weather at sea

A look back in the Ship Report archives at an interview I did with Capt. Robert Johnson in the early 2000s, about what it's like aboard a ship, from the captain's perspective, when their vessel is caught in a storm.
Listen

Who’s on the river today?

A look at today's ship traffic, which includes a domestic petroleum tanker, a military vessel and the usual complement of bulk carriers. Ships traveling 24/7 on the river as usual.
Listen

Shipbreaking: a necessary and problematic industry

Today, in answer to a listener question, a look at a troubling but necessary industry: shipbreaking. Where do old ships go to die? The answer mostly is to a shipbreaking yard somewhere in South Asia, to countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. We'll talk about...
Listen

The Ship Report, the show about All Things Maritime, features maritime news and information, local and international, based in the Pacific Northwest in Astoria, Oregon. shipreport.net. Podcasts available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts

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

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.