Boatlift: a memorable and wonderful moment in the midst of disaster

Sep 11, 2023

Today, on September 11, we remember those lost on this day in 2001 in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Today we remember Operation Boatlift.

After the towers fell, hundreds of thousands of people were desperate to get off Manhattan Island. But they had nowhere to go, since bridges subways, and tunnels in and out of the city were closed, and the city was in chaos. Then the Coast Guard issued a call to “all available boats” to come and help. The response was immediate and astounding.

Within minutes, hundreds of tug boats, ferries, pleasure boats, vessels of all kinds, started streaming toward the bottom of Manhattan, from all over NY and adjoining harbors. Together, in a miraculous spur of the moment mobilzation of mariners wanting to help – they evacuated 500,00 people to safety.

If you’d like to watch the memorable short film quoted in this podcast, please watch Boatlift (link below). It’ll be among the best 11 minutes you’ll ever spend. Have a box of tissues nearby. If you’re anything like me, you’ll need it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOrzF7B2Kg

Boatlift: a memorable and wonderful moment in the midst of disaster

Boatlift: a memorable and wonderful moment in the midst of disaster

Today, on September 11, we remember those lost on this day in 2001 in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Today we remember Operation Boatlift.

After the towers fell, hundreds of thousands of people were desperate to get off Manhattan Island. But they had nowhere to go, since bridges subways, and tunnels in and out of the city were closed, and the city was in chaos. Then the Coast Guard issued a call to “all available boats” to come and help. The response was immediate and astounding.

Within minutes, hundreds of tug boats, ferries, pleasure boats, vessels of all kinds, started streaming toward the bottom of Manhattan, from all over NY and adjoining harbors. Together, in a miraculous spur of the moment mobilzation of mariners wanting to help – they evacuated 500,00 people to safety.

If you’d like to watch the memorable short film quoted in this podcast, please watch Boatlift (link below). It’ll be among the best 11 minutes you’ll ever spend. Have a box of tissues nearby. If you’re anything like me, you’ll need it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOrzF7B2Kg

The Pacific Tracker: an odd looking ship with an unusual mission

Sep 08, 2023

Today we’ll focus on one of our hometown vessels, ones that are based here but are still very unusual-looking no matter how many times you see them. Today we have the Pacific Tracker on our ship schedule – she’s based in Portland and goes out into the ocean regularly. Her job is to track missiles for the US military.

The Pacific Tracker: an odd looking ship with an unusual mission

The Pacific Tracker: an odd looking ship with an unusual mission

Today we’ll focus on one of our hometown vessels, ones that are based here but are still very unusual-looking no matter how many times you see them. Today we have the Pacific Tracker on our ship schedule – she’s based in Portland and goes out into the ocean regularly. Her job is to track missiles for the US military.

A look at today’s abundant ship schedule, and why we may see more ships this time of year

Sep 07, 2023

It’s fall on the Columbia, a time when we may see more ships than usual transiting the river. one possible reason has to do with the seasons: it’s harvest time.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

A look at today’s abundant ship schedule, and why we may see more ships this time of year

A look at today’s abundant ship schedule, and why we may see more ships this time of year

It’s fall on the Columbia, a time when we may see more ships than usual transiting the river. one possible reason has to do with the seasons: it’s harvest time.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

The amazing true story of the Tonga Castaways

Sep 06, 2023

The true and astounding story of how a group of shipwrecked teenagers managed to survive, and thrive, on a deserted South Pacific island for a year until they were rescued – in a stunning example of ingenuity and teamwork.

The amazing true story of the Tonga Castaways

The amazing true story of the Tonga Castaways

The true and astounding story of how a group of shipwrecked teenagers managed to survive, and thrive, on a deserted South Pacific island for a year until they were rescued – in a stunning example of ingenuity and teamwork.

It’s clear from the weather that autumn is pretty much here, but when does fall start, exactly?

Sep 05, 2023

Today we’ll talk about the two autumns: astronomical fall and meteorological fall. We’ll talk about what the difference is, and why there are two starts to one season.

It’s clear from the weather that autumn is pretty much here, but when does fall start, exactly?

It’s clear from the weather that autumn is pretty much here, but when does fall start, exactly?

Today we’ll talk about the two autumns: astronomical fall and meteorological fall. We’ll talk about what the difference is, and why there are two starts to one season.

The Seafarers Happiness Index for Q2 2023

Sep 01, 2023

Today, we’ll take a look at an international survey conducted every quarter of each year since 2015. It’s called the Seafarers Happiness Index, conducted by the London-based Mission to Seafarers organization.

It’s a report that compiles and analyzes survey responses from employees working at sea around the world. The report for the second quarter of 2023 is out, and it’s not particularly good news. Seafarer job satisfaction is down, continuing a trend seen last quarter as well. Industry-wide, ongoing pandemic-related problems remain, and workers are sometimes hard pressed to get paid, or have to pay extra for necessities on board like drinking water.

These workers are vital to our global economy. We’ll look at the survey results.

The Seafarers Happiness Index for Q2 2023

The Seafarers Happiness Index for Q2 2023

Today, we’ll take a look at an international survey conducted every quarter of each year since 2015. It’s called the Seafarers Happiness Index, conducted by the London-based Mission to Seafarers organization.

It’s a report that compiles and analyzes survey responses from employees working at sea around the world. The report for the second quarter of 2023 is out, and it’s not particularly good news. Seafarer job satisfaction is down, continuing a trend seen last quarter as well. Industry-wide, ongoing pandemic-related problems remain, and workers are sometimes hard pressed to get paid, or have to pay extra for necessities on board like drinking water.

These workers are vital to our global economy. We’ll look at the survey results.