The Columbia Snake River System: the backbone of our region’s commerce

Most of us take the Columbia River for granted and enjoy looking at the part of it we can see from wherever we are.

But the river is part of a huge inland water highway that stretches over 500 miles from the mouth of the Columbia to Lewiston, Idaho.

The river system here is a huge driver in the chain of commerce, and it connects our region to a nationwide and worldwide network of cargo transport, made possible by ships, tugs and barges – and ultimately on land, by trains and trucks.

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The unseen role of tugs and barges on the river

Today, a look at tugs and barges on the river. They often slip by unnoticed by folks on land, but they play an important role in the chain of commerce on the Columbia and related rivers.

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Laser pointer incident injured USCG crewman during training off Tillamook Bay Bar

This local incident, in which someone pointed a green laser pointer at a USCG vessel training in the ocean off Tillamook Bay, is a serious federal crime. The USCG is investigating, and looking for tips from the public.

A crewman suffered impaired vision after the incident. A reminder that laser pointers are not toys and can cause serious harm even at a great distance. Convictions for incidents like these can mean big fines and jail time.

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A look at where ships go when they leave the river

Today we take a look at the path of a ship that we see here on the Columbia: where she came from, where she’s going and what’s on board. A ship’s time here on the Columbia is usually just a snapshot of a larger voyage that can take her far and wide on the oceans of the world.

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An Astoria hometown vessel returns: The USCGC Steadfast is back from 70 days at sea

The lovely white Coast Guard cutter Steadfast is back in her spot at the 17th Street dock in Astoria near the Columbia River Maritime Museum. She’s just returned from almost two and a half months at sea. We’ll talk about the important work these Coast Guard cutters do, and the huge role the Coast Guard plays in our region.

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Man and dog rescued at sea after three months adrift

The somewhat miraculous story the rescue of a man and his dog, adrift on a disabled sailboat, 1200 miles off the coast of Mexico. They’d been at sea for three months when a tuna spotting helicopter happened to see them.

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A look at who’s on the river today, cargo and transit times

A look at today’s ship schedule, with some details about individual ships, cargo and travelign on the river.

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Some answers to listener questions about bar and river pilots

After yesterday’s show about bar and river pilots locally, I got some questions from a listener that include: How do pilots get from one place to another on land when they are working and not aboard ships? Are there places for them to sleep between shifts if needed? We’ll talk about pilot logistics on land, an important part of the job.

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Marine pilot overview – a vital but unseen profession

For folks who may be new to the region, or any of us who haven’t thought recently about what it takes to get a ship from the mouth or the river to Portland – today’s show is an overview of what marine pilots do, and who is doing that work here on the lower Columbia.

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Chinook Observer story analyzes beach drownings

An incisive story in local newspaper the Chinook Observer analyzes the commonalities n drowning victims over the years on the Peninsula.

A distinct pattern has emerged: victims are mostly young, fit swimmers who are overcome by cold water and rip currents, often on days when beach conditions appear ideal and unthreatening.

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