Do all big vessels take a pilot on board?

Do all big vessels take a pilot on board?

Oct 17, 2024 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

Today, a listener question about marine pilots: which ships take them and which don’t?

In the majority of cases, it’s a matter of the law. And we certainly see a lot of local domestic vessels, like tugs and excursion vessels, and US-flagged river cruise ships, that don’t take pilots. Their captains know the river well.

But almost all large visiting vessels operating in land waterways, worldwide, use the services of marine pilots, for safety reasons.

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A visitor asks about ships at anchor off Astoria

A visitor asks about ships at anchor off Astoria

Oct 16, 2024 | Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

I got a question about ships at anchor off Astoria, one I’ve answered before… but it’s always good to revisit these very visible and wonderfully local examples of “how things work” on the river.

Today we’ll talk about tides and their effects on anchored ships, and what their appearance and position tell us about what is happening on the river.

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When is a sinking ship not a sinking ship? When she’s a split-hull hopper dredge

When is a sinking ship not a sinking ship? When she’s a split-hull hopper dredge

Oct 15, 2024 | Columbia River Ship Traffic, Home Slider, Ship Report Podcasts

Today’s riddle: When is a sinking ship not a sinking ship? In this case, this week on the lower Columbia, it’s probably the split-hull hopper dredge Bayport, a ship that is designed to split in half without sinking.

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