What determines transit time on the river? Lots of factors, that include current, tides and displacement

What determines transit time on the river? Lots of factors, that include current, tides and displacement

Today we’ll talk a little about a somewhat mindboggling topic: what happens when a ship goes by… it’s connected to transit time, how long it takes a ship to get from one place to another. Massive ships move lots of water when they travel, and ships here are up against heavy current and tidal influences. We’ll talk about what defines transit time of the river.

With another big cruise ship in town, we look at what’s next for Astoria this season

With another big cruise ship in town, we look at what’s next for Astoria this season

We have yet another huge, blue-water cruise ship in town, those behemoths that come in from out in the ocean to dock in Astoria for the day. Today we’ll take a look at what’s ahead for the Port of Astoria’s cruise ship season.

Listener question about anchored ships and what it says about sudden public interest in shipping

Listener question about anchored ships and what it says about sudden public interest in shipping

I got a listener question from someone this weekend who asked me why there were ships anchored in the river off Astoria. It’s a telling question, in this season of public anxiety about tariffs. We’ll talk about why those ships are a normal part of life here, and how to learn more about what may happen next.

Why so many cruise ships in Astoria all of a sudden? The answer is “repositioning cruises”

Why so many cruise ships in Astoria all of a sudden? The answer is “repositioning cruises”

Today we’ll talk about marine weather and ship schedules, but also about why there were so many cruise ships in Astoria this week. The answer lies in a cruise industry protocol that happens around this time of year: repositioning cruises, to take ships from their winter grounds to their summer grounds. Astoria is along the way for these West Coast maneuvers, and people like out city. So they stop here along the way to somewhere else.