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The legendary Sargasso Sea and why it was so feared by sailors
Mar 21, 2023The Sargasso Sea has been in the news this week, because of drifting seaweed that could reach the US. But during the age of wind, mariners on sailing ships feared the Sargasso, because ships often became becalmed there and crews perished from starvation and lack of drinking water.
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It’s the first day of spring! Or is it?
Mar 20, 2023Today is the first day of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere. But for meterologists, spring has been in session since the 1st of March.. We’ll talk about why there are two springs, two falls, two summers, etc.
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There’s a new “biggest container ship in the world” – what does that mean?
Mar 17, 2023Today we talk about the latest “biggest container ship in the world,” the MSC Irina. She can carry more than 24,000 containers – that’s a lot. But is she the biggest ship? We’ll talk about how “bigness” is defined in the world of shipping.
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News on ocean salmon seasons for southern Oregon coast
Mar 16, 2023This week ODFW announced that the spring commercial chinook salmon fishing seasons south of Cape Falcon would be cancelled this year. And the recreational fishery is closed for part of that area of the coast. More to come on summer and fall seasons, which have yet to be decided.
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First hydrogen-powered ferry in the US set to get underway in San Francisco
Mar 15, 2023The first US ferry to use hydrogen as its fuel source will go into service later this year in San Francsico. We’ll talk about ferries, ships, pollution, and carbon footprints.
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Why some days anchorages are empty, and on others they seem full of ships
Mar 14, 2023A bit of information today about anchorages on the river and what they are for. And why some days anchorages are empty and on others they seem full of ships.
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Listener question about an odd looking ship
Mar 13, 2023Today, the answer to a listener question about an odd-looking ship on the river, which prompted a riddle: “When is a ship not a ship?” Answer: when it’s an ATB.
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Answer to a frequent listener question about barges
Mar 10, 2023One of the most common listener questions I get is people asking and speculating about what is on barges that pass by Astoria with a white powdery substance on board. They want to know what it is and why it doesn’t blow off in the wind. It’s crushed limestone and the reason it stays put has to do with a property of substances that can be gathered in piles: it’s called “angle of repose.”
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Containership loses containers off Bermuda: what does that mean for boats?
Mar 09, 2023We’ll take a look at a situation in the North Atlantic where a containership lost almost 50 containers overboard. Now the Coast Guard has issued an alert for boaters. We’ll talk about the risks.
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What’s a ship channel?
Mar 08, 2023In nautical terms, a channel is a very important thing. We have a ship channel in the Columbia River and it’s vital that mariners know where it is, whether they are professionals working on a ship or tug, or recreational boaters out having fun. We’ll talk today about channels and how you locate them.
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