The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:
Archive Podcasts:
The visiting Rose Festival Fleet ships head downriver and out to sea
Rose Festival Fleet Summary:
Today (Monday) we will see the visiting ships from the Rose Festival Fleet head downriver and out to sea.
There was a change of plans for the USS Mustin over the weekend. She was slated to leave on Sunday morning from the Seawall in Portland where the ships were tied up in Tom McCall Park for tours.
Turns out she is leaving Monday with the rest of the visiting fleet. Apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced by that, which I originally announced as happening Sunday morning. I was using the best information I had at the time. But plans change often with ships – they are not like mass transit – operating on set schedules. Their plans change according to their priorities and we have to roll with that as shipwatchers on land.
But I’m pretty confident that we’ll see her pass by on Monday with the rest of the departing fleet.
So here is the rundown as I know it at the moment:
Monday morning around 8 am, the US Navy missile destroyer USS Jack H Lucas will depart from the seawall and head downriver.
Around 9, the USS Mustin is scheduled to depart. She is also a US Navy missile destroyer. Both of these ships were previously docked at the Port of Astoria on their inbound trip to the Rose Festival.
Around 10 am, the USCG Barque Eagle will depart Portland from that same area.
And also around 10 am the Canadian Navy Coastal Defence Vessel HMCS Nanaimo departs Portland.
We should be able to track these ships on AIS sites like vesselfinder and marine traffic. And while the Eagle I believe has her name in her AIS label, the other ships may use the words Govt vessel in their names on AIS. Or they could turn off their AIS entirely because they are active duty vessels.
Estimates for times are about 1.5 hours to Longview/Rainier, and 6 hours to Portland. But this varies with conditions on the river, so transit times vary.
More about the Eagle since I know that’s really high interest:
The Eagle looks as though she is heading out to sea Monday, according to the available info I have – since she has a week before she needs to be back in Astoria for tours, so they may be working with the cadets at sea during that time. But I’m not entirely sure, so let’s watch what she does as she passes Astoria.
According to the Eagle’s Facebook page they’ll be back on Friday, June 13 in Astoria!
Come see us at Pier 1 where we’ll be offering free public tours during the following dates and times:
• Friday, June 13: TBD
• Saturday, June 14: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, June 15: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
No tickets are required and tours are free of charge. See you then! But a reminder that you need to have a Real ID or a passport to get on board, according to current federal regulations.
You can follow the Eagle on Facebook by going to “United States Coast Guard Barque EAGLE.”
Podcast: Play in new window
What’s next with the Rose Festival Fleet, and a bit more about that car ship fire off Alaska
The Rose Festival Fleet will beginning their return trip downriver and out to sea over the weekend. We’ll see the first visiting ship leave Portland on Sunday, and the rest on Monday. He USCG Barque Eagle will head out to sea Monday but will return at the end of next week for tours in Astoria.
Photo Credit: Joanne Rideout. The USCG Barque Eagle, anchored off Astoria June 3, 2025.
Podcast: Play in new window
Car ship blaze off Alaska shows dangers of shipboard fires, especially involving EVs
There’s a car ship ablaze off the coast of the Aleutians, after a fire started on board. The crew has been safely evacuated but the ship remains on fire. We’ll talk about the dangers of shipboard fires, made worse in the modern era of electric vehicles (EVs).
Podcast: Play in new window
Wednesday Fleet Week update
Today we’ll take a look at ships heading upriver for the Rose Festival today: the USCG Barque Eagle and the Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Nanaimo. Expect the Eagle to leave Astoria around 7:30am and around 8:30am the Nanaimo will pass Astoria inbound.
For info about tours in Portland, go to rosefestival.org and click on the Fleet Week link.
Podcast: Play in new window
The USCG barque Eagle comes into the Columbia, and the Rose Festival Fleet begins its journey upriver
Tuesday morning early we’ll see the USCGC Eagle arrive on the Columbia. She’ll cross the bar around 6 am and be in Astoria around 8:30am. The two US Navy ships at the Port of Astoria will head upriver to Portland. The Rose Festival Fleet is here and on the move.
Today, more details on today’s ships.
Podcast: Play in new window
The Rose Festival Fleet goes upriver this week
This week the visiting ships that comprise the Rose Festival Fleet will pass by Astoria and other points on the river to Portland. Ships will dock at the seawall at Tom McCall Park and be available for tours there.
We have several ships heading past Astoria this week. Here’s the list of ships and when we’ll likely see them:
Tuesday:
- USS Mustin – US Navy guided missile destroyer – Depart Port of Astoria ~8am Tuesday/ Portland ~3:30pm
- USS Jack H Lucas – US Navy guided missile destroyer – Depart Port of Astoria ~8:30am Tuesday/ Portland ~4pm
- HMCS Nanaimo – Canadian Navy maritime coastal defence vessel – Passing Astoria ~8:30am Tuesday/ Portland ~4pm
Wednesday:
- USCGC Eagle – inbound past Astoria ~9:30am Wednesday/ Portland ~3:30pm
More info see the Rose Festival Fleet website: https://www.rosefestival.org/events/2025/fleetweek
Track ships in real time on vesselfinder or marinetraffic. Be aware that some military ships do not display AIS for security reasons or are designated as military with numbers instead of names.
Podcast: Play in new window
A US Navy ship arrives for tours in Astoria, the Rose Festival Fleet, and dredge season on the river
An opportunity Saturday to tour a US Navy ship that arrives at the Port of Astoria today. Likely the first of next week’s Rose Festival Fleet of arriving ships, including the USCG tall ship Eagle.
And it’s dredge season on the Columbia River – and we’ll be seeing at least one of these specialized vessels on the river for the rest of the year, doing her part to keep our ship channel free and clear for vessels. We’ll talk about what these ships do here and about their special role in the maritime industry.
Podcast: Play in new window
Maritime scholarship for students opens doors to education
Today we’ll talk about a scholarship being offered through the Portland Merchant Exchange. It’s an opportunity for students interested in a career in the maritime industry to get some funding assistance with their education.
Podcast: Play in new window
Should you sail to Hawaii like Oliver Widger?
It’s a wonderful story about a person escaping a soul-crushing rut, and making a bold decision to pursue a dream. Oregonian Oliver Widger sailed out of Warrenton last month (with his cat) and made it safely all the way to Hawaii. He quit his job, bought a boat and sailed away, despite having little experience as a sailor.
We’ve all dreamed of escaping at one time or another. So this begs the question: should you sail to Hawaii alone? Maybe. We’ll talk today about what it takes.
Podcast: Play in new window
Where do ships go when they travel on the river?
Today we’ll take a look at where ships go where they come to the Columbia. When we talk about the ship schedule, we hear that some ships are going to Portland, but some to the Port of Portland. What’s the difference? We’ll talk about all the options for ships when they arrive and have to go somewhere.
Podcast: Play in new window
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
