The autumnal equinox brings shorter days

Today we talk about the autumnal equinox, with its shorter days, which have actually been happening since June but we didn’t notice it. We’ll talk about what’s happening and what to expect between now and December, when the days start getting longer again.

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Low water on the Columbia

Today we talk about low water in the Columbia River, something that tends to happen this time of year. It’s a time when ships take extra precautions when traveling on the river, to make sure they have enough water under the keel.

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Four Jones Act vessels on the river today

Today there are four Jones Act vessels on the river: ships that were built here, are registered in the US, and are crewed by US citizens or nationals. They are a special breed of vessel.  We’ll talk about the Jones Act and what it means for US shipping.

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Ballast water & invasive species

As a follow up on yesterday’s show about the costs of operating ships, today we consider another cost of a different sort: the cost (which can be counted in more ways than simply money) of invasive species introduced through ballast water.

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A listener question about ship costs and pollution on the river

Today, I’ll estimate an answer to a listener question about what it costs to take a ship upriver to Porltand and back, and also about pollution ships give off while they are on the Columbia.

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Navy adds Buddhist pennant to its roster of religious flags

For the first time in history this month, a US Navy ship displayed an official Buddhist pennant, developed by the Navy for this purpose, during a religious ceremony on board. It’s part of U.S. military efforts at religious diversity and inclusion.

Image courtesy U.S. Navy Press Office

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Where do ships go when they leave here?

Today we take a look at the most common destinations ships are heading to when they leave the Columbia River, often loaded with cargo from a local port.

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NTSB calls for personal EPIRBs after fishing boat sinking

In the wake of the sinking of a commercial fishing boat in 2020 in the waters off Maine, the NTSB is recommending personal EPIRBs. Had the crew of the lost boat, the Emmy Rose, had them, they might be alive today.

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The pilot boat Peacock: a game changer for Columbia River commerce

Today we take a look at a prominent boat in the Astoria community: the pilot boat Peacock. She’s on display on the grounds of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and you can’t miss her as you drive through town.

But there’s a reason why she’s there and it’s not just that she was a good old hometown working boat. The Peacock changed the course of commerce on the Columbia River when she arrived here in the late 1960s, because she was the first pilot boat that could handle heavy weather without batting an eye.

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Operation Boatlift

Each year, around the anniversary of 9/11. the Ship Report shares this reminder of the best of human nature in tough times. Today’s show is all about Operation Boatlift, a spontaneous US Coast Guard request for help from “all available boats” in NY harbor after the twin towers fell on September 11, 2001. The response from area mariners was instantaneous and inspiring.

Inicluded in this show is an audio clip from an amazing short film called “Boatlift.” Below is a link to this 11 minute film. It’s among the most inspiring 11 minutes you’ll ever see in historical filmmaking. I defy you to watch it without choking up.

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Here’s a link to the film, “Boatlift” and some information about the film’s makers and their efforts to foster community in the face of disaster.

The following text is posted on the “road2resilience” YouTube channel along with the film, Road2resilience is a group formed after the release of the film to promote resilience in communties facing disaster.

“Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. Produced and directed by Eddie Rosenstein. Eyepop Productions, Inc.

BOATLIFT was executive produced by Stephen Flynn and Sean Burke and premiered on September 8th at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit: Remembrance/Renewal/Resilience in Washington. The Summit kicked off a national movement to foster community and national resilience in the face of future crises. The film was made with the generous support by philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, Chairman Emerita, TotalBank (www.arsht.com)”

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