Annual Columbia River dam and lock maintenance begins in March

Annual Columbia River dam and lock maintenance begins in March

The Columbia River has dams and locks inland from Vancouver, and billions in commerce pass though those locks each year by tug and barge. After all that wear and tear, the Army Corps of Engineers schedules yearly maintenance periods during which locks are closed and all equipment is inspected, repaired and maintained. It’s part of the essential workings of a river system that is a huge economic engine for the region. We’re coming up on one of those annual two week periods in March.

A look at the people in port who make ship transits and port stays happen

A look at the people in port who make ship transits and port stays happen

We’ve been talking this week on the show about People on the ships we see. So far we’ve talked about the people on board. Today we’ll talk about an important additional piece of things: the portside army of professionals who make it possible for ships to arrive, handle cargo, and depart – in as smooth and efficient a manner as possible.

 

Food: an essential ingredient to a happy life on board ship

Food: an essential ingredient to a happy life on board ship

Today, continuing this week’s theme of people on board ship, we’ll talk about food. Fresh, well-prepared meals are essential to crew morale. Without a good meal after a hard work shift, sailors can get pretty discouraged as they labor for months without much time off. So wise captains make sure food on board is good and plentiful.

Photo courtesy US Navy. Galley aboard the USS Mesa Verde.

The Engineering Department: a vital, often unseen workforce on any ship

The Engineering Department: a vital, often unseen workforce on any ship

A critical and ofen unseen workforce on any ship is its below decks engineering department. These hardworking, highly skilled folks keep all the essential systems running on board the ship, ensuring that the captain and the rest of the deck department folks can handle the job of getting the ship from one place to another, and handling its cargo.