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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Cliff Mass predicts low-key summer PNW weather, cites cooler ocean temps

In light of scary news about high ocean temps off Florida (90 degrees, F.!), we take a look at what’s happen in the opposite corner of the country, in our Pacific NW ocean and weather neighbothood, courtesy of University of Washington meteorologist Cliff Mass.

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New containership highlights green methanol as ship fuel

A new containership has joined the  fleet of the huge shipping line Maersk, and what makes it special is that it runs on green methanol. We’ll talk about what that is, and why it’s an important step in the evolution toward cleaner fuels for the shipping industry.

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Sailboat races off Astoria in the Columbia River

Tuesday nights in the summer, Astoria residents and visitors can see the Astoria Yacht Club sailboat races happening in the river, starting at about 6 pm a little downriver from the Megler Bridge. It’s a neat opportunity to watch sailors negotiate the tricky waters, currents and winds of the lower Columbia.

Photo credit: Joanne Rideout, photo of Rattler, a contender in the Tuesday Night Astoria Yacht Club Races.

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