The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

PNW Offshore Race starts Thursday, open house in Ilwaco today

Today from 11 to 2, you can stop by the Port of Ilwaco and see some of the 50 sailboats getting ready for the 50th annual PNW Offshore Race from the Columbia River to Victoria BC. Also, two interesting military ships arrive in the river today, headed for the Portland shipyard.

Archive Podcasts:

Microplastics in the Columbia River, Part 2

Dec 23, 2021

In this two part Ship Report, we’re talking about microplastics in our waters and in the Columbia River in particular. In a recent online talk sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper, we hear from Idaho professor and researcher Kirsten Kapp, who studies microplastics – tiny bits of plastic – in our natural environment.

Today we look at microplastics in our Columbia River water, and what we as citizens and consumers can do about it.

Microplastics in the Columbia River, Part 1

Dec 22, 2021

In this two part Ship Report, we’re talking about microplastics in our waters and in the Columbia River in particular. In a recent online talk sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper, we hear from Idaho professor and researcher Kirsten Kapp, who studies microplastics – tiny bits of plastic – in our natural environment.

In Part 1 today we look at where microplastics come from and where they end up.

The macabre and queasy maritime story of artificial vanilla extract

Dec 21, 2021

It’s a hard to believe scenario with multiple layers: yes, vanilla extract is found in our waterways around the holidays in embarrassing quantities, courtesy of our sewer systems.

Worse, it’s mostly artificial vanilla extract – not even the real thing. But that’s not all.

Today we took a look at the oddly spicey pollutants in our waters at this time of year, and where artificial vanilla flavor really comes from.

Spoiler: it’s probably best that you not be eating when you listen to this one, and our story has to do with a furry, water-loving animal called a beaver.

Image: Engraving of a Beaver. Thomas Pennant, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Behold the latest in cargo shipping convenience: the Supersack

Dec 10, 2021

As container shipping continues to be snarled in ports worldwide, customers are switching gears and moving cargo the old-fashioned way: on general cargo ships in huge bags called “supersacks.”

Photo: Supersacks on the ground awaiting transport. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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