The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

US carrier Matson says no to electric vehicles, citing lithium ion battery risk

The US ocean carrier Matson has decided to no longer ship electric vehicles, because of the increasing frequency of what analysts believe are lithium ion battery caused fires on car ships. Despite newer industry recommendations designed to make ships safer, these fires remain a deadly, and usually in practice, uncontrollable hazard on board.

Archive Podcasts:

Captain of the Port, Part 6

Jan 08, 2019

In the final installment of our interview series about the Coast Guard’s unseen role in supporting safe cargo transit on US waters, we talk with Captain Jeremy Smith, Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River, and commander of Air Station Astoria, Oregon.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons, USGC.

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Ice at Sea

Jan 07, 2019

When conditions get cold at sea there is always the risk of ice, on decks, rigging and gear. Ice can cause boats to become top heavy and dangerously unstable. It’s a real risk for Pacific Northwest fishermen who are often doing their work in the worst weather of the year in winter months.

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Captain of the Port, Part 5

Jan 06, 2019

More from my interview with Captain Jeremy Smith, USCG Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River. We’re talking about ships at anchor in the river and how security and other issues are handled there.

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Captain of the Port, Part 4

We continue hearing excerpts from my interview with Captain Jeremy Smith, USCG Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River. We’ll hear more about the unseen but vital role the Coast Guard plays in security and safety of arriving ships on the river.

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Holidays at sea

Dec 31, 2018

Many mariners spend holidays at sea. Wise captains make sure they have good food and a comforting atmosphere to help sailors feel less lonely away from home.

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Beach accident

Dec 27, 2018

An accident on the beach in Tillamook County is a case in point about safety near the ocean. A few minutes of goofing around in the surf zone quickly morphed into a destroyed vehicle and serious injury for someone trapped inside.

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USCG Captain of the Port, Part 3

Dec 26, 2018

We resume our look at Coast Guard operations on arriving cargo ships, with an excerpt from my recent interview with Capt. Jeremy Smith, USCG commander of Air Station Astoria, and Captain of the Port, Columbia River Sector.

A Coastal Christmas

Dec 24, 2018

This Christmas Eve show is dedicated to all mariners working on the holidays. Hear the story of “A Coastal Christmas,” in which Santa is rescued by crabbers and the Coast Guard, and a Christmas disaster is averted. A charming take on “The Night Before Christmas” by Long Beach Peninsula writer Lynette Rae McAdams. The book is illustrated by Astoria artist Sally Lackaff. Available in bookstores around the region. Music “Waiting for Saint Nick,” by Seattle singer-songwriter Larry Murante.