This week I’m taking a time off, and so we’ll be hearing a series of interviews I did last summer with an impressive local maritime professional: Samantha Steerman. She’s one of the behind the scenes essential people who help make things run smoothly for big ships on the river.

Samantha is currently the dispatcher for the Columbia River Bar Pilots in Astoria. But she has a long history working in the maritime industry locally. This week we’ll hear segments from my interview with her. Enjoy this glimpse into a vital but seldom-seen role in the maritime industry.

This series first aired in late July and early August last year.