The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

Who’s on the river today?

Today we'll take a look at ship traffic, and at how the Columbia remains what it has historically been when it comes to cargo: an big export region for raw materials.

Archive Podcasts:

A closer look at unusual ship on the river this week

May 26, 2023

This week some shipwatchers noticed the GSL Eleni coming down river: an odd sight, she was a containership with no containers on board. We’ll talk a little about her backstory.

Photo of the GSL Eleni, courtesy Gregg Akehurst, shared with permission from the Ship Report Community Photo Page on Facebook. The ship is heading downriver on the Columbia with a support tug on her stern.

The oft-misunderstood but essential lifejacket

May 24, 2023

In most drowning accidents, the victim was not wearing a PFD,  or lifejacket. It’s a sad and somewhat bewildering statistic that most people don’t wear a lifejacket when boating or otherwise in the water. Today we talk about some of the misconceptions about the lowly PFD. It’s an often-ignored piece of ordinary gear that could save your life.

Mystery ship revealed as USNS oiler heads for Portland

May 19, 2023

So there was this ship in the ocean off Cannon Beach this week that had a lot of people wondering… and well, today – the mystery is solved. That ship came into the river and headed to the ship yard at Swan Island. We’ll talk more today about her, why she seemed a bit mysterious, and why sometimes things that may confuse us as the public may just be part of the regular work day for the maritime professionals here in our region.

USNS Mercy heads out to sea after major shipyard refit in Portland

May 18, 2023

Cool ship alert: the USNS Mercy heads downriver this morning from the shipyard in Portland after a major upgrade that took months. She’s a US Navy hospital ship with 1,000 beds, 12 operating rooms, and lots of other services on board.

Image courtesy: Jim Bedient, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Recruitment changes could open up Coast Guard opportunities

May 16, 2023

Recruitment of their usual demographic in the Coast Guard is down: 18-year old high school grads are not choosing to sign up as much as they once did.

So the agency is making plans to open up recruitment to older people with work experience and education, and possibly part time opportunities as well.

It’s part of an effort to get the personnel they need for their mission, and also to diversify their workforce in a changing world.

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