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!

The December holiday season kicks off Saturday with the lighting of Ilwaco’s crabpot Christmas tree in Ilwaco

It's the holidays, and so we're seeing some of our beloved coastal traditions coming around again. One unique local maritime tradition here on the Columbia happens in the port town of Ilwaco, Washington. It's the lighting of the "World's Tallest Crabpot Christmas...
More

Upriver challenges for ships on the Columbia

Yesterday we talked about the many challenges bar pilots face guiding ships between Astoria and the mouth of the river (the Columbia River Bar). Today we'll touch on the upriver and even more seldom-scene leg of the river: the 100-mile segment between Astoria and...
More

Why the Columbia River is so challenging

I talk about this topic from time to time on the show, because there are so many facets to it. Today we'll take a look at the challenges the river poses for arriving ships, from the unsual underwater geology offshore, to the daunting currents along the winding river...
More

What we know about the Carnival Panorama’s return to Astoria

For some folks, this story is just the quirky odyssey of a cruise ship with mechanical problems. For others, who have holiday cruises planned on the Carnival Panorama, dreams for long-awaited family gatherings are at stake, as technicians work to repair the ship...
More

Geez Louise, sneaker waves and king tides this weekend

We'll take a look at the double whammy of high sneaker wave risk and king tides this weekend. All of that means if you absolutely must go to the beach, be extra vigilant. If you're sightseeing, consider high up places that overlook the beach.
More

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

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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The December holiday season kicks off Saturday with the lighting of Ilwaco’s crabpot Christmas tree in Ilwaco

It's the holidays, and so we're seeing some of our beloved coastal traditions coming around again. One unique local maritime tradition here on the Columbia happens in the port town of Ilwaco, Washington. It's the lighting of the "World's Tallest Crabpot Christmas...
Listen

Upriver challenges for ships on the Columbia

Yesterday we talked about the many challenges bar pilots face guiding ships between Astoria and the mouth of the river (the Columbia River Bar). Today we'll touch on the upriver and even more seldom-scene leg of the river: the 100-mile segment between Astoria and...
Listen

Why the Columbia River is so challenging

I talk about this topic from time to time on the show, because there are so many facets to it. Today we'll take a look at the challenges the river poses for arriving ships, from the unsual underwater geology offshore, to the daunting currents along the winding river...
Listen

What we know about the Carnival Panorama’s return to Astoria

For some folks, this story is just the quirky odyssey of a cruise ship with mechanical problems. For others, who have holiday cruises planned on the Carnival Panorama, dreams for long-awaited family gatherings are at stake, as technicians work to repair the ship...
Listen

Geez Louise, sneaker waves and king tides this weekend

We'll take a look at the double whammy of high sneaker wave risk and king tides this weekend. All of that means if you absolutely must go to the beach, be extra vigilant. If you're sightseeing, consider high up places that overlook the beach.
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.