Today we’ll talk about something that mariners and some specialized land-based jobs share: the need for “situational awareness.” That’s the abillity to pay focused attention to what’s going on around you, and being able to respond appropriately. That means remaining calm, and no panicking.
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Today, a look at how ships navigate, and how different things are now from the way they were before the invention of GPS.
Photo: Public Domain, US Navy. Crewman using a sextant.
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Today, in the context of today’s ships, we’ll talk about cargo, anchorages and why ships are such an efficient means of travel. And take a look at when our amazing stretch of beautiful but cold weather might end.
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A good complement of ships on the river today, coming and going. Some interesting cargoes to talk about.
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Our sunny weather may be a welcome break from the usual rain, but the lack of cloud cover is bringing cold nights – and that poses particular hazards for those working at sea these days, especially commercial fishermen.
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Today, a look at a very specific and important design feature on ships: the bow, the very front end of things. Why do they look the way they do? And why do some ships look different than others?
Image: a ship with a plumb bow in the Astoria Anchorage. Credit: Joanne Rideout 2025.
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