How big is big? A look at containerships

Jul 10, 2022

Today we’ll take a look at that big, really big, containership that came into the Columbia on Friday. The MSC Shay – she is now officially the largest containership to transit the river.

But what does that mean, and how big is she compared to the biggest ships in the world? We’ll take a look today at how size is assessed in big ships like this.

How big is big? A look at containerships

How big is big? A look at containerships

Today we’ll take a look at that big, really big, containership that came into the Columbia on Friday. The MSC Shay – she is now officially the largest containership to transit the river.

But what does that mean, and how big is she compared to the biggest ships in the world? We’ll take a look today at how size is assessed in big ships like this.

Cold Ironing: an odd nautical term explained

Jul 08, 2022

Today we’ll talk about cold ironing. It’s an odd nautical term for something some ports offer to visisting ships: the ability to shut off their engines and plug into shore power at the dock.

Saves fuel, cuts pollution, while allowing life to proceed normally on board for the crew who call the ship their workplace and home away from home.

Cold Ironing: an odd nautical term explained

Cold Ironing: an odd nautical term explained

Today we’ll talk about cold ironing. It’s an odd nautical term for something some ports offer to visisting ships: the ability to shut off their engines and plug into shore power at the dock.

Saves fuel, cuts pollution, while allowing life to proceed normally on board for the crew who call the ship their workplace and home away from home.

The interesting phenomenon of the “dead wake”

Jul 07, 2022

If you have occasion to see a vessel go by on the river, if you look carefully you can sometimes see its “dead wake,” a trail of glassy, disrupted water that can remain long after the boat or ship has passed by. It’s not the active bubbly wake immediately behind the vessel, but a calm signature in the water, like a visible trail that shows where it’s been.

The interesting phenomenon of the “dead wake”

The interesting phenomenon of the “dead wake”

If you have occasion to see a vessel go by on the river, if you look carefully you can sometimes see its “dead wake,” a trail of glassy, disrupted water that can remain long after the boat or ship has passed by. It’s not the active bubbly wake immediately behind the vessel, but a calm signature in the water, like a visible trail that shows where it’s been.

Warm water rescue reminds us we are not Florida

Jul 06, 2022

A fortunte warm water rescue of an overboard fishing boat captain in the warm waters off Florida is a cautionary tale to remind us that in terms of climate and survivability in the water after a mishap, the Pacific Northwest is not Florida.

Warm water rescue reminds us we are not Florida

A fortunte warm water rescue of an overboard fishing boat captain in the warm waters off Florida is a cautionary tale to remind us that in terms of climate and survivability in the water after a mishap, the Pacific Northwest is not Florida.

Observing the River

Jul 05, 2022

I had occasion to stop and observe the Columbia River closely this weekend. What I noticed tells a lot about this powerful river and what we need to know about it. This knowledge is  accessible to anyone who takes a moment to stop and look.

Observing the River

Observing the River

I had occasion to stop and observe the Columbia River closely this weekend. What I noticed tells a lot about this powerful river and what we need to know about it. This knowledge is  accessible to anyone who takes a moment to stop and look.

Thermal troughs are influencing our weather, but what are they?

Jul 01, 2022

Today we talk about a weather term that’s bandied about but I bet hardly anyone knows what it means: thermal trough. It’s influencing our weather this weekend. It has to do with heat and wind, and the natural inclination of our world to seek balance in all things.

Thermal troughs are influencing our weather, but what are they?

Thermal troughs are influencing our weather, but what are they?

Today we talk about a weather term that’s bandied about but I bet hardly anyone knows what it means: thermal trough. It’s influencing our weather this weekend. It has to do with heat and wind, and the natural inclination of our world to seek balance in all things.