Weather shift signals fall is finally here

It looks like we may have had our last gasp of sunny, warm weather for the year. We’re in for some rainy, blowy weather this week. So bundle up if you can, and brace yourself for a change in the weather. Hello, Fall – for reals.

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Nice weather in store, and a closer look at car ships

We’ve got a gorgeous weekend in store… perhaps the last burst of summer, so get out there and enjoy it!

And we’ll take a closer look at those odd-looking car ships that come into the river almost every day.

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A listener question about marine pilot support crews

Behind evey pilot transfer, where a marine pilot boards or leaves a ship in the river or on the ocean, there is a highly trained crew of professionals on either a helicopter or a pilot boat, making sure the process happens safely. Today we take another look behind the scenes in the maritime industry at the work of these transport support crews.

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Research vessel visits Astoria

We’ll have a research vessel here in town, just for the day today. We’ll talk about why research vessels often come here and dock at the Port of Astoria.

Photo: R/V Robert Gordon Sproul, Scripps Insitution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Photo courtesy Scripps.

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More on dangerous work at sea

Today we’ll talk more about dangerous maritime work and what mariners do to protect themselves, and also why they shy away from certain kinds of safety equipment, like harnesses, in certain situations, Sometimes freedom to move if something goes wrong is the best option.

And, a heads up about a special maritime event happening at the Fort George Brewery’s Lovell Showroom on 14th Street, on Thursday at 7 pm in Astoria. Clatsop Community College Professor Julie Brown will give a talk titled, “Sailing to Valhalla – Ship Burials and Boat Graves from Around the World.” Brown teaches maritime culture at Clatsop, and is a Fulbright Scholar.

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A look at marine pilots and their work on board ships

Today I’m answering a listener question about what pilots do when they are on board a ship. It’s a big topic and I thought it would make a good show. So today, a quick glimpse at the complicated and demanding job that marine pilots do daily here on the Columbia River.

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A fish story – of danger and daring on the Columbia River Bar

Today and tomorrow, I’m taking a break from the Ship Report and will return on Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy this archive story – one of my favorites – the true tale of the sinking of a fishing boat, told as no one else can by long-time KMUN programmer and  commentator Michael McCusker. It’s about the day the Meteor, a fishing boat he was crewing on, sank in a most dramatic fashion on the infamous Columbia River Bar.

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Man overboard incident highlights maritime job risks, especially in fall and winter

This week, a crewmember on a ship approaching Boston harbor fell overboard. He was rescued and died at the hospital.

This incident highlights the risky nature of maritime work, especially in fall and winter months. A similar incident happened here on the Columbia a number of years ago. We’ll talk about why rescues like this can fail despite everyone’s best efforts. And how maritime work is hazardous year round.

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Repositioning cruises visit Astoria as fall arrives

With cruise ships in town the past two days, you might be wondering what cruise ships are doing coming to Astoria in the fall, especially with the weather being a bit of a issue the past few days. Aren’t cruises a summer thing? Turns out they can also be an off season thing. That’s thanks to the concept of the “repositioning cruise.”

For folks who like a slower paced, perhaps longer cruise, that’s cheaper than one you might take in the summer – and if you like the idea of spending more time at sea than in port – this could be the cruise for you.

Photo: The Majestic Princess is visiting Astoria today on a repositioning cruise. Photo credit: Joanne Rideout

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Ship traffic moves through as weather eases

We’ve got one fast moving storm to deal with today and then a break in the weather (we hope!). We’ll look at who’s here on the river today, and why it’s good to see ships in the anchorage on stormy days like this. (Hint: tired mariners need a rest from storms at sea.)

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