The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

What determines transit time on the river? Lots of factors, that include current, tides and displacement

Today we'll talk a little about a somewhat mindboggling topic: what happens when a ship goes by... it's connected to transit time, how long it takes a ship to get from one place to another. Massive ships move lots of water when they travel, and ships here are up against heavy current and tidal influences. We'll talk about what defines transit time of the river.

Archive Podcasts:

What determines transit time on the river? Lots of factors, that include current, tides and displacement

Today we’ll talk a little about a somewhat mindboggling topic: what happens when a ship goes by… it’s connected to transit time, how long it takes a ship to get from one place to another. Massive ships move lots of water when they travel, and ships here are up against heavy current and tidal influences. We’ll talk about what defines transit time of the river.

Listener question about anchored ships and what it says about sudden public interest in shipping

I got a listener question from someone this weekend who asked me why there were ships anchored in the river off Astoria. It’s a telling question, in this season of public anxiety about tariffs. We’ll talk about why those ships are a normal part of life here, and how to learn more about what may happen next.

Why so many cruise ships in Astoria all of a sudden? The answer is “repositioning cruises”

Today we’ll talk about marine weather and ship schedules, but also about why there were so many cruise ships in Astoria this week. The answer lies in a cruise industry protocol that happens around this time of year: repositioning cruises, to take ships from their winter grounds to their summer grounds. Astoria is along the way for these West Coast maneuvers, and people like out city. So they stop here along the way to somewhere else.

An unusual cruise ship adventure in the river today

Lots of folks saw that big cruise ship sitting at anchor near Warrenton, instead of at the Port of Astoria where we all thought she should be.

Turns out Mother Nature had other plans for her… there was a extra-low low tide this morning, and that meant that the ship had to wait in deeper water for the tide to rise, so there would be enough deep water at the dock so she could tie up there.

It was a planned maneuver executed by the bar pilots. Once the tide rose enough, the ship was able by midday to head to the dock.

Part of the unseen expertise that keeps ships of all kinds safe on the river.

The Ship Report comes in small bites as SHIP REPORT MINUTES: The Fast Scoop on Maritime News and Info!

Monday through Friday (except major holidays) watch for 10-MINUTE SHIP REPORTS: Ship Traffic, Marine Weather, News and Interviews

Subscribe to the RSS feed.

The Ship Report is also broadcast Weekdays at 8:49 am on Coast Community Radio Astoria, Oregon

Follow The Ship Report on and