The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

The USNS Grasp, a Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship, comes to Portland

We're seeing unusual ships arriving in the river this week so far. Yesterday it was the USCGC Healy, the Coast Guard's biggest ship, headed to the Swan Island shipyard. Today it's the USNS Grasp, a highly specialized rescue and salvage ship, whose job it is to save people and ships when they get in trouble on the water. Image: the USNS Grasp, photo courtesy of US Navy photo gallery.

Archive Podcasts:

The expensive law of “general average” and how it applies to cargo ship disasters

Apr 15, 2024

There’s an ancient tenet of maritime law that is cropping up in reports about the catastrophe in Baltimore harbor with the containership Dali. It’s called “general average,” and it has to do with who pays when a ship runs into expensive trouble during a voyage.

This law can force those customers whose cargo is on the ship to help pay for the cost of the disaster. Mostly it ends up being a complex negotiation between many insurance companies, but it could be an expensive caveat for small businesses who may not have insured their cargo sufficiently.

Unusual ships on the river today, and Astoria’s paddlewheeler may be back

Apr 04, 2024

A look at our ship schedule, which includes a military cargo ship and a missile tracking defense vessel. And a bit of good news about the American Empress, the paddlewheel cruise ship that used to be at Astoria’s 17th St. dock until her company folded. Another company has bought her and she may be back.

Car manufacturing: a global phenomenon

Apr 03, 2024

Answering a listener question about a car carrier with Toyotas headed for the Port of Portland. Today we’ll talk about the many countries in which familiar autos brands are manufactured, including vehicles from American companies.

These days our cars, and the parts that comprise them, are made around the world. It’s part of our global economy.

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