The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:
Archive Podcasts:
Interesting goings-on in the Astoria Anchorage show experts handling ship issues
Sep 24, 2024This weekend a ship experienced some engine issues heading downriver. Observant folks near the Astoria Anchorage noticed some unusual activity – the actions of marine pilots and a tugboat crew at work keeping the ship safe until it could fix its problems and head out to sea, which it eventually did.
Podcast: Play in new window
The autumnal equinox, and a look at fall near the Arctic Circle
Sep 23, 2024Today, a bit about the autumnal equinox, which happened yesterday in the Northern Hemisphere.
And if you’re feeling sad about the shorter days, consider the people of Barrow, Alaska (now called Utquiagvik), who endure 67 days of complete darkness between mid-November and late January.
Podcast: Play in new window
The USNS Henry J Kaiser heads downriver
Sep 19, 2024Today we’ll talk about the USNS Henry J Kaiser heading downriver from Vancouver and out to sea. She’s a Military Sealift Command ship, a replenishment oiler. A tyoe of ship that’s like a sea-going fuel station. She’s got equipment on board that allows her to fuel other ships at sea. She also carries supplies like food and parts. Just the thing for supplying an active duty Navy ship that doesn’t have time to head to port
Podcast: Play in new window
Ship hull colors and why they look that way
Today I’ll talk about a really pretty ship in the Astoria Anchorage that has a beautiful turquoise hull. We’ll talk about ship hull colors, why they look the way they do, and why some paints have a special purpose that includes their color.
Podcast: Play in new window
White caps and white horses
Sep 18, 2024Today we’ll talk about a specific sea state that you might see often off the downtown Astoria waterfront this time of year, and that’s: white caps. Also called “white horses” in the UK.
They’re the result of a specific set of circumstances involving wind and tide, and they signal choppy conditions that mariners need to know about.
Podcast: Play in new window
Anchor buoys, and why (and how) ships use them
Sep 17, 2024Today we hear from a river expert: Columbia River Pilot Captain Wes Balensifer answers a question from a listener about anchor buoys at Rainier on the Columbia River. We’ll also talk about other anchorages on the river and why they don’t have buoys.
Podcast: Play in new window
Names, countries and other words painted on ships – and what they mean
Sep 16, 2024Today we’ll talk about the words you see painted on the sides and sterns of ships. They can represent vessel names, flags of registry and the names of companies that operate ships. Today we’ll talk about what that all means.
Podcast: Play in new window
Ship speed: some factors that determine how fast ships go
Sep 13, 2024Today, a look at ship speed, how fast they can go, why they choose to slow down sometimes, and how long it takes to get from one place to another at sea.
Podcast: Play in new window
The Sand Plan: guidelines that address a fact of life on the Columbia, and that’s dredging
Sep 12, 2024Each year, the US Army Corps of Engineers dredges tons and tons (and tons) of sand out of the river to keep the ship channel open and navigable. We all rely on it to receive the goods we need to live our lives. It’s also a huge economic driver for the region.
But the dilemma remains: where to put all that sand? The agency, along with river ports, has drafted a docuoment called the Sand Plan, which will spell out where dredge spoils will go for the next 20 years.
The public comment period is open now through early October. Regional meetings and a virtual meeting are happening starting next week. Make your voice heard. Dredging can affect ecosystems, fish spawning grounds, and even enhance riparian conditions if properly handled.
Get involved in an important process – creating a plan that attempts to balance the needs of all stakeholders in the river, both human and those (like wild creatures) who cannot speak for themselves.
See a copy of the draft plan here: Draft DMMP-EIS on the USACE Digital Library
Email comments here: LCR-CMP-DMMP@usace.army.mil (Please add “Draft DMMP-EIS” in the subject line of your email.)
In-person meetings:
September 16 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Cowlitz County Event Center
1900 7th Avenue, Longview, Wash.
September 17 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Norse Hall
444 WA-409 Cathlamet, Wash.
September 18 • 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
St. John’s Community Center
8427 N Central Street, Portland, Ore.
September 20 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Astoria Senior Center
1111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Ore.
USACE and the sponsor ports will host a virtual meeting:
September 24 • 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Meeting login information will be posted on this webpage: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannelmaintenance/
Podcast: Play in new window
Boatlift: Recalling the maritime evacuation during 9/11 in Manhattan, which showed us the best we can be
Sep 11, 2024Today, on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on NYC and Washington, DC, we remember “Operation Boatlift”: a stunning display of people helping people – as hundreds of private boat owners joined the US Coast Guard to evacuate stranded victims from Manhattan Island after the World Trade Center collapsed.
It’s an unforgettable look at humans being the best we can be.
Transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript091124.pdf
Link to the film “Boatlift”: https://youtu.be/18lsxFcDrjo?si=q54jead3lglU2zSX
Podcast: Play in new window
Monday through Friday (except major holidays) watch for 10-MINUTE SHIP REPORTS: Ship Traffic, Marine Weather, News and Interviews
Subscribe to the RSS feed.
The Ship Report is also broadcast Weekdays at 8:49 am on Coast Community Radio Astoria, Oregon
Follow The Ship Report on
and
