King Tides this weekend

Annual King Tides are happening this weekend on the Oregon and Washington coasts, which mean higher than normal tides, along with big storm waves and storm surge. It looks to be a dangerous weekend on the beach. Heed warnings and stay out of the surf!

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

The Desdemona Sands Lighthouse

At the turn of the 20th century, a sturdy lighthouse stood on pilings the western edge of a huge sandbar in the Lower Columbia downriver from Astoria. The Desdemona Sands Light was first manned by a lighthouse keeper and in later years was automated. She guided ships for more than three decades before falling prey to time and better technology. Her old pilings are gone, but her memory remains.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

The weather, again…

Our Pacific Northwest winter weather continues to deliver a punch that is affecting ship traffic on the river and making things difficult for mariners, especially crabbers who have started the season, as they do every year, in the worst of our weather.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

The new year brings sad maritime news

The new year has started with a stark reminder of how fragile life can be in our coastal environment. Today, three separate news stories of dramatic rescues during the past week, in our waters from Oregon to Alaska. Some people are missing as families grieve.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Happy New Year, and when it happens around the world

Depending on where you are in the world, whether aboard a ship or on land, the New Year happens at different times. we’ll take a look at various places around the world, to see what time 2020 arrives, in Pacific Northwest time.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Crab season opens this week

Commercial Dungeness Crab Season opens this week, after delays beyond the usual target date of Dec 1. Not all areas of Oregon waters are open, but crab in the lower Columbia region meet the criteria. Today we talk about how dangerous crabbing is, and what fishermen risk to bring you your dinner.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Remembering those who are gone

The last day of the closing year are a good time to remember those who are gone. Today we remember lost fishermen, with a song from Long Beach Peninsula songwriter Mary Garvey, in honor of fisherman Kevin Soule, who died in a fishing accident on Willapa Bay in 2018.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Holidays at Sea

Holidays at sea can be a lonely time for seafarers. Wise captains make sure the food is good and  their crews’ traditions are observed. But that’s not always the case. We’ll learn a bit about holidays aboard ship.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

A Coastal Christmas

In what is becoming a Ship Report Christmas Eve tradition, today’s show includes a reading of “A Coastal Christmas,” a charming local take on “The Night Before Christmas,” about how crabbers and the Coast Guard rescue Santa, his reindeer and his sleigh, and basically save Christmas for the whole world. And turns out Santa is a fan of Pacific Northwest seafood!

A Coastal Christmas was written by Long Beach Peninsula writer Lynette Rae McAdams and illustrated by Astoria artist Sally Lackaff, and is available in local bookstores.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

The bar’s on red status!

The Columbia River Bar is on red status this morning? What does that mean? We’ll talk about it.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More