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!

Steep rises in shipping costs mean higher prices for consumers

As the effects of the pandemic continue in global shipping, we're seeing prices rise sharply on container goods. The result could be higher prices on familiar goods, like coffee, toys and furniture. Some goods like anchovies and olives, could be hard to come by in...
More

A look at clouds, the harbingers of weather

Today, a look at the three most common types of clouds we see: cirrus, stratus and cumulus. Each one can tell us something about what's next in the weather.
More

The cruise ship Pride of America is in Astoria today: here’s why

Yesterday a huge (927-foot-long) cruise ship sailed into the Columbia River and docked at the Port of Astoria. Since cruises don't restart until July in the U.S., what is she doing here? Turns out she's only here for a short stop, then on to Portland for maintenance...
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Rip current claims a life on the Long Beach Peninsula

This holiday weekend, with its gorgeous weather, drew many visitors to Pacific Northwest beaches. For one family, the weekend ended in tragedy, as a 14 year old boy was swept out to sea off Long Beach, Washington. Another life claimed by the ocean, because someone did...
More

Ship handling continued

More on shiphandling - how to wrangle vessels at sea.
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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

Steep rises in shipping costs mean higher prices for consumers

As the effects of the pandemic continue in global shipping, we're seeing prices rise sharply on container goods. The result could be higher prices on familiar goods, like coffee, toys and furniture. Some goods like anchovies and olives, could be hard to come by in...
Listen

A look at clouds, the harbingers of weather

Today, a look at the three most common types of clouds we see: cirrus, stratus and cumulus. Each one can tell us something about what's next in the weather.
Listen

The cruise ship Pride of America is in Astoria today: here’s why

Yesterday a huge (927-foot-long) cruise ship sailed into the Columbia River and docked at the Port of Astoria. Since cruises don't restart until July in the U.S., what is she doing here? Turns out she's only here for a short stop, then on to Portland for maintenance...
Listen

Rip current claims a life on the Long Beach Peninsula

This holiday weekend, with its gorgeous weather, drew many visitors to Pacific Northwest beaches. For one family, the weekend ended in tragedy, as a 14 year old boy was swept out to sea off Long Beach, Washington. Another life claimed by the ocean, because someone did...
Listen

Water safety tips for Memorial Day Weekend

Nice weather, a holiday weekend, it's a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. As I do every year, here are a few tips to help keep you and yours safe as you enjoy our deceptively dangerous maritime environment here the PNW.
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.