Fundraising for USCG personnel during the shutdown

As USCG personnel face the absence of their paychecks as part of the government shutdown, we share ways that you can help by contributing food and money to area groups that will get resources to Coast Guard families who need them.

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A Fisherpoet Weighs In on Tragedy

Soon after the tragic wreck of the crab boat Mary B II on the Yaquina Bay Bar in Newport, Oregon, earlier this month, many people in the fishing community shared their grief at the loss of three lives.

One of the most eloquent tributes came from Fisher Poet Tele Aadsen, who fishes Alaska waters with her partner Joel Brady Power, on their salmon troller Nerka. Today’s Ship Report features Tele’s blog post, a testimony to lives lost under harrowing conditions, in a difficult profession.

Photo credit: Tele Aadsen from her post on Facebook about the Mary B II. Thank you, Tele, for your great writing and the eloquent window you give us into life at sea.

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The Wreck of The Mary B II

The tragic loss of the Dungenness crab boat Mary B II on the Yaquina Bay Bar this week has thrown the PNW fishing community into bitter mourning, as crabbing season finally gets underway after more than a month of delay. Three men died attempting to cross the bar, coming home with a full crab boat after a long round of work at sea.

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Captain of the Port, Part 6

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

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

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

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

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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