Mystery ship in Astoria Anchorage

I’ve been getting listener questions about a ship that seemed to be having difficulties in the Astoria Anchorage. Today I have the scoop on that vessel, which was having trouble with a steering pump.

Correction: today’s report referred to Brix tugs as being based in Cathlamet. They are in fact Portland-based. Brusco tugs are in Cathlamet.

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The Voyages of the S/V Jane Franklin

This year on the Ship Report ,we’ll be following the voyages of Capt. Russ Roberts and his sailing yacht Jane Franklin, as Russ and his crew make their way from Miami, Florida, through the Panama Canal, to Hawaii and eventually to the Pacific Northwest. A rare glimpse into life on board a sailboat at sea, where crew members have only one another and their hardy craft to rely on. A true tale of life at sea.

In this first installment, the Jane Franklin leaves Miami and makes her way in difficult seas and high winds around Cuba toward the Panama Canal. A look at sailing in another part of the world.

Photo: the Jane Franklin and her crew safely at the dock on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, after making their way from Miami. Photo courtesy Russ Roberts.

You can follow the voyages of the good ship Jane Franklin online at https://www.svjanefranklin.org/

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What’s a bomb cyclone?

We’ve been having one heck of a bout of wintry weather here on the coast so far in 2020, but this week’s swirling storm off the Pacific was ominously called a “bomb cyclone.” Holy Orwell, what’s that? We’ll talk about what that meteorological term means.

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First responders suffer too when tragedy strikes

While news reports tend to focus on the details of harrowing rescues and tragic losses in maritime emergencies, there’s another seldom discussed dimension to rescues – the trauma suffered by first responders.

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Rescued shipboard sheep get a good home

After so much sad news lately in our coastal communities, let’s hear a happier story: today’s Ship Report is about the numerous survivors of the sinking of a livestock carrier. The animals were some 180 sheep originally bound for slaughter, But the unlikely flock was rescued by an animal rights organization that will make sure they live happily ever after on a farm, instead of becoming someone’s dinner.

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Tragedy at Falcon Cove

This weekend, tragedy struck a family on the Oregon coast. Two children were killed when a sneaker wave ripped them from their father’s arms. Today we talk about safety, compassion, and the immense power of the ocean.

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Danger on the coast

Authorities are warning coastal visitors to stay off the beach this weekend. The risk of life-threatening sneaker waves is too great. We’ll talk about the risks.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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