Solo kayaker logs almost 7,000 miles in round trip journey

Today we’ll talk about the amazing solo kayaking journey of 65-year old Canadian Mark Ervin Furhmann, who just completed a 268-day voyage alone. He departed last year from Nova Scotia, paddled north to the St Lawrence River, made his way to the Great Lakes and down the MIssissippi and adjoining rivers until he arrived in the Gulf of Mexico. From there he journeyed to Florida and up the East Coast back to Nova Scotia. He made the trip to raise funds for two charities, and to spread a message of goodwill and societal  healing.

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Fukushima nuclear plant begins 30-year plan of water releases into the ocean off Japan

The headlines are stress-inducing – based on what we know about Fukushima – the site of the destroyed nuclear plant after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that created a disaster in that country.

In the 12 years since, radioactive water has been building up around the plant, used to keep the damaged reactor cool. Now the company that owns it has a plan to release 1.3 million metric tons of that water into the ocean over the next 30 years. (Note: A metric ton, also written as tonne, is equal to about 2200 lbs, a bit larger than a US ton which is 2,000 lbs.)

The company says the water’s been filtered to remove the worst contaminants. Critics are skeptical.

We’ll take a look at what this means and the reaction of nearby countries, as a decades-long experiment begins.

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US-flag ship delivers humanitarian wheat from Longview through Food for Peace program

Earlier this month, the US-flag bulk carrier Liberty Glory left the Port of Longview with 28,000 metric tons of Pacific Northwest wheat bound for starving familes in the Middle East and East Africa. The Food for Peace program has been in place since the 1950s, and is part of the US commitment to offering humanitarian aid in areas of greatest need.

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New technology allows bulk carriers to retrofit to use sail power

A new hard sail technology called “Wind Wings” has been retrofitted on a 2017-built bulk carrier allowing it to harness the power of the wind, potentially saving 25% on fuel costs.

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Hybrid ferries are coming to Puget Sound, and where does the PNW get its electrical power?

Today we take a look at the plan to convert the Washington State Ferry System in Puget Sound to hybrid electric vessels. And, following up on the sources of electric power to power those hybrid vessels: we’ll also take a look at the carbon footprint of Washington and Oregon… where do we get our electricity?

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A look at today’s ship schedule, and windy weather continues

A look at today’s abundant ship schedule, which includes several Jones Act, US-flag tanker vessels delivering refined petroleum to Portland.

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As ships embrace new alternative fuels, where do those fuels come from?

The shipping industry is taking admirable steps to switch to less polluting fuels, even claiming “zero emissions” ships are on the horizon in a few years. It’s a welcome change and much needed change.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to produce some of those currently available and affordable alternatives to petroleum. Turns out it’s a process, not a magic bullet, as we transition to a less polluting way to get around. Ships are already complying with international rules implemented in 2020 that reduced air pollution. But continued progress is welcome as we seek to reduce the burden we place on our planet.

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Buoy 10 Fishery, a fun annual river season that calls for good boating skills

It’s Buoy 10 salmon fishing season on the lower Columbia between the mouth of the river and Tongue Point. It’s a time when lots of private recreational boats and charter boats are on the river, trying to catch those delicious salmon.

We’ll talk about a few things to keep in mind if you go out, and why if you’re inexperienced it’s a great idea to hire a fishing guide: someone who knows how to keep you safe in a demanding environment and also knows where the fish are.

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The Panama Canal: some history, and some disturbing current events

Most of us take the Panama Canal for granted, if we even think of it at all. It has a turbulent history that includes the deaths of 25,000 workers over the more than three decades that it took to construct it. Some thought at the time that it would never be finished.

In the present day, this waterway is a huge deal in the world of shipping, Vessels of all types use it to avoid the long and dangerous voyage around the bottom of South America. But serious, unprecedented drought there now during what is supposed to be the rainy season is causing restrictions on shipping and making shippers consider other options. It’s a game changer for the shipping industry to have this important artery unable to meet demand.

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Special author interview series this week: Tele Aadsen, “What Water Holds” Part 5

The final day of our week long series fearuring an interview with author and fisher poet Tele Aadsen. Aadsen’s memoir, “What Water Holds,” an exploration of her life in commercial fishing, came out this summer.

This interview was made possible by Brad Wartman and The Fisher Poetry Archive. Find video of the complete interview at thefisherpoetryarchive.com, and also in the Ship Report Blog: https://shipreport.net/2023/08/04/interview-with-author-and-fisher-poet-tele-aadsen-what-water-holds/

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