A return to the era of sailing ships? A new cargo ship embraces sail

There’s a new RO-RO cargo ship under construction in Turkey, in what may be the first modern cargo ship to embrace sail as its primaryu mode of propulsion. (A RO-RO ship is a ship can can carry vehicles – Roll on, Roll off…)

We’ll talk about what thie new build will be like, and how it compares to the magnificent clipper ships of old, which were pretty darn fast in their own right – fast enough to compete with today’s engine-powered vessels.

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What if first responders couldn’t save you?

Today we hear a sobering message from local Oregon Coast first responders who respond to incidents where beachgoers are swept away by sneaker waves on beaches and jetties: sometimes conditions are so bad they can’t save you.

With King Tides still an issue locally, and sneaker waves a threat year round, we hear today from the professionals who do their best for us during tragic emergencies on the water.

For more information about the interviews you heard on today’s show, see the Tillamook County Pioneer online (tillamookcountypioneer.net). The featured video on their website is called: Safe Storm Watching. Watch it here.

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A musical look at the bewildering world of sailboat jargon

Today, something light to cheer us up – we’ll hear a song from New England singer-songwriter Molly Conole, called “Sea Talk,” about her thrilling (but initially bewildering) introduction to the world of recreational sailing, and catboats in particular.

Photo: Molly and Mark hard at work in the recording studio. Photo courtesy Mark Alan Lovewell.

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Why cargo loading can be a life or death matter

One thing all of the ships we see on the Columbia have in common: they were all loaded properly at the dock for safe stability at sea. If this doesn’t happen, the consequences can be deadly.

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Whale washed up on Warrenton beach highlights ship dangers

A dead whale washed up on a beach in Warrenton, and experts attribute its death to a ship strike. We’ll talk about the risks ships pose for whales.

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Tragic incident shows the danger of waterways that rush to the sea

Today we’re talking about how overpowering our waterways can be here on the PNW coast, where danger lurks not just on the infamous Columbia River Bar, but anywhere there’s a waterway that meets the Pacific Ocean.

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The days are getting longer even if it doesn’t feel like it

Today, in the midst of rain, rain, rain, let’s talk about what’s up above the clouds: the sun, which is making its way into our days more and more as we head toward spring, even if we don’t notice it just yet. And a bit about the moon, that other celestial body we see now and then when the clouds part.

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A look at ship names

With the weather calmed down enough that ships are coming and going as usual on the river, it’s a good day to look at the names of the ships on the river today and see what we can learn about them. We’ll talk a little about how some ships are named.

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Tragic death highlights the risks inherent in being a marine pilot

A tragic death in the UK this week, as a marine pilot dies in the course of doing his work. We’ll talk about what pilots do right here on the Columbia, and why their work is dangerous.

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The high price of not looking out the window

Today a story about a disastrous collision between two vessels, caused by one vessel’s failure to notice another – one that was right in front of them.

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