The work of a vessel agent: a chat with Christi Lee Dunham

This week on the Ship Report we’ll hear excerpts from my interview with Christi Lee Dunham, a vessel agent on the Columbia River.

She’s a local expert who works with arriving foreign ships. It’s a vital and unseen professional role in river commerce. Dunham makes sure ships and their crews get the professional assistance they need to do business on the River.

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The scoop on wind turbine parts on the Columbia

While we talk from time to time here on the show about those shipments of huge white blades, tower parts and naselles that make their way upriver on big ships, today we’ll talk more in detail about wind turbine parts: where they’re from, where they’re going and how they get there. Along with interesting trivia like: how much does one blade weigh?

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The weather’s the thing

It will be hard to ignore the weather here for the next few days at least… the weather service is tossing around terms like “gale force” winds and “atmospheric river.” We’ll take a look at those terms, and at the forecast, which includes the potential for inches of rain.

For folks on land, our weather will be worthy of a hot cup of tea, a good book, and a warm pet nearby if you have one (or two). For mariners at sea, it means a lot more work to get things done, and to get from one place to another safely.

In short, it’s autumn on the coast – so snuggle in if you can.

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A look at today’s ship traffic

We’ve got a nice complement of ships on the river today: let’s talk about them! Where they’re from, where they’re going and what’s on board.

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Changes in the weather are afoot, and a look at today’s ship traffic

A few more days of sunshine and then rain re-enters our forecast. And a look at who’s on the river today.

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Comment period ends soon for proposed Oregon ocean wind power projects

The last day of Octoberr is Tuesday, October 31st. That’s the last day of the public comment period for proposed floating wind turbine projects off the coast of Oregon off Coos Day and near the California border.

We’ll talk more about those proposed projects.

You can submit your public comment here, before midnight EDT on October 31st (That’s 9 pm PDT): https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2023-0033-0001

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Derelict vessels on the Columbia River

Today we have a special report on derelict vessels on the Columbia, as I talk with veteran radio journalist Tom Banse. Tom’s been researching disintegrating vessels – eyesores that can be seen along the river bank in various locales on the lower Columbia corridor.

Derelict vessels are ugly, beyond repair, and can pose environmental and navigational hazards. Tom has investigated what Oregon and Washington are doing to get them disposed of safely. We’re talking today about those ongoing efforts.

Many thanks to Tom Banse for this story.

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A closer look at pilot transits and when multiple pilots are needed on board

Today we’ll look at instances when, instead of the usual single marine pilot on board a ship traveling on the Columbia, there may be two pilots aboard. Certain situations require it – for workplace safety and safe operation on the river.

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