The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

The USS Plainview, a relic of lower Columbia history, beached in the shallows of Hungry Harbor

Today we take a look at the USS Plainview, a once-innovative, prototype hydrofoil ship design that was decommissioned by the Navy in the 1960s. She ended up sidelined by her civilian owner after plans to make her into a seafood processing vessel didn't pan out. She remains, partially dismantled, on the shores of the Columbia on the Washington side of the river, a few miles east of the Megler Bridge, beached on private property. Today we'll take a look at her once exciting history, and why she...

Archive Podcasts:

Older sailors show us that age doesn’t have to be a limitation

Aug 01, 2023

Today we’ll talk about the oldest woman ever to curcumnavigate the globe solo in a sailboat. She did that a few years ago at 78. Now she’s 80 and just set sail again, crossing the Pacific from Mexico to New Zealand, alone. She’s one of a number of older sailors who still take to the seas.

The Columbia Snake River System: the backbone of our region’s commerce

Jul 28, 2023

Most of us take the Columbia River for granted and enjoy looking at the part of it we can see from wherever we are.

But the river is part of a huge inland water highway that stretches over 500 miles from the mouth of the Columbia to Lewiston, Idaho.

The river system here is a huge driver in the chain of commerce, and it connects our region to a nationwide and worldwide network of cargo transport, made possible by ships, tugs and barges – and ultimately on land, by trains and trucks.

Laser pointer incident injured USCG crewman during training off Tillamook Bay Bar

Jul 26, 2023

This local incident, in which someone pointed a green laser pointer at a USCG vessel training in the ocean off Tillamook Bay, is a serious federal crime. The USCG is investigating, and looking for tips from the public.

A crewman suffered impaired vision after the incident. A reminder that laser pointers are not toys and can cause serious harm even at a great distance. Convictions for incidents like these can mean big fines and jail time.

An Astoria hometown vessel returns: The USCGC Steadfast is back from 70 days at sea

Jul 24, 2023

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.

Some answers to listener questions about bar and river pilots

Jul 18, 2023

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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