What happened in Tonga?

A closer look at what happened in Tonga, and how a volcanic eruption could be violent enough to send a tsunami worthy shockwave across the Pacific.

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The days are truly getting longer

Let’s talk about something happy today, like…. the days are getting longer!

We’ll talk about what this means for brighter days ahead, and also a bit about why days are just getting longer, little by little, over the centuries.

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Tsunami Advisory on US West Coast

Well, as if we haven’t had enough going on lately (snow, intense rain, snow melt, flooding, highway collapse…) this weekend we had a tsunami advisory caused by a volcanic eruption in Tonga, almost 6,000 miles away. We’ll talk about how tsunamis work and how this one got here so fast – in about 12 hours. That’s about how long a non-stop flight would take in a jet airplane.

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The Triumph-Mermaid Tragedy, Part 2

Today we conclude our tribute to the crew of the USCG motor lifeboat Triumph and her crew, and the two crewmembers aboard the fishing vessel Mermaid, as we continue the story of the Triumph disaster, the most tragic incident in the history of the Coast Guard in the Pacific Northwest.

Part 2 today recounts the incredible efforts by Coast Guard personnel to save the Mermaid and the amazing survival of one crewmember of the Triumph, who lived through being thrown into storm tossed seas as the boat disappeared beneath the waves.

A reminder that despite comprehensive lifesaving training and valiant effort, we do indeed live in the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” a place where the weather and the sea have the last word.

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The Triumph-Mermaid Tragedy, Part 1

Today we commemorate those lost in a tragic USCG rescue incident that happened 51 years ago yesterday, in 1961, right here on the Columbia River Bar. It started with a fishing boat in trouble on the bar, and ended with several Coast Guard vessels lost along with five coastguardsmen, and a fishing boat lost and two fishermen dead. One motor lifeboat crewman from one of the lost vessels miraculously lived.

In this first of a two part series, we remember the sinking of the USCG motorlifeboat Triumph and the other vessels involved in the rescue attempt of the crab boat Mermaid on Jan 12, 1961.

A reminder that the lower Columbia can be a formidable foe for mariners, no matter how skilled and prepared they may be.

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Farewell, Jon Campbell

A huge loss to the maritime music realm, and the Fisher Poets Gathering – musician and poet Jon Campbell died Tuesday. Today we remember his words and music.

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A closer look at today’s ship schedule

Today we take a close look at who’s coming and going on the river, with a look at ships, ship names and special uses for some raw material mineral cargoes.

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US Navy tall ships gains first female captain

The USS Constitution, nicknamed Old Ironsides, a historic US Navy tall ship, is now for the first time under the command of a female captain.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons: Kathy92648, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Crazy weather: how does it affect ship traffic?

We’re looking at some crazy weather this week – how does it affect ships?

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Portland now consider “niche” port in global suppy chain

Portland is now considered to be a “niche” port in international trade, and that means some shippers are sending increased numbers of containers here.

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