The Most Recent Ship Report Podcast:

More weather on the way

Another storm is heading out way, with the potential to disrupt the flow of ship traffic on the river. This is pretty normal and happens in the winter time. Safety is essential for ships and the people on them.

Archive Podcasts:

The Sand Plan: guidelines that address a fact of life on the Columbia, and that’s dredging

Sep 12, 2024

Each year, the US Army Corps of Engineers dredges tons and tons (and tons) of sand out of the river to keep the ship channel open and navigable. We all rely on it to receive the goods we need to live our lives. It’s also a huge economic driver for the region.

But the dilemma remains: where to put all that sand? The agency, along with river ports, has drafted a docuoment called the Sand Plan, which will spell out where dredge spoils will go for the next 20 years.

The public comment period is open now through early October. Regional meetings and a virtual meeting are happening starting next week. Make your voice heard. Dredging can affect ecosystems, fish spawning grounds, and even enhance riparian conditions if properly handled.

Get involved in an important process – creating a plan that attempts to balance the needs of all stakeholders in the river, both human and those (like wild creatures) who cannot speak for themselves.

See a copy of the draft plan here: Draft DMMP-EIS on the USACE Digital Library

Email comments here: LCR-CMP-DMMP@usace.army.mil (Please add “Draft DMMP-EIS” in the subject line of your email.)

In-person meetings:
September 16 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Cowlitz County Event Center
1900 7th Avenue, Longview, Wash.

September 17 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Norse Hall
444 WA-409 Cathlamet, Wash.

September 18 • 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
St. John’s Community Center
8427 N Central Street, Portland, Ore.

September 20 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Astoria Senior Center
1111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Ore.

USACE and the sponsor ports will host a virtual meeting:
September 24 • 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Meeting login information will be posted on this webpage: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannelmaintenance/

Boatlift: Recalling the maritime evacuation during 9/11 in Manhattan, which showed us the best we can be

Sep 11, 2024

Today, on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on NYC and Washington, DC, we remember “Operation Boatlift”: a stunning display of people helping people – as hundreds of private boat owners joined the US Coast Guard to evacuate stranded victims from Manhattan Island after the World Trade Center collapsed.

It’s an unforgettable look at humans being the best we can be.

Transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript091124.pdf

Link to the film “Boatlift”: https://youtu.be/18lsxFcDrjo?si=q54jead3lglU2zSX

Wheat R Us: our river system is the the nation’s single largest wheat export gateway

Sep 09, 2024

If you hear me talk a lot about wheat on the Ship Report, there’s a good reason: most ships are carrying it. That’s beause the Columbia-Snake River System is the nation’s single largest wheat export gateway. That’s a lot of wheat, and valuable commerce to drive the region’s economy.

A new hometown USCG cutter for Astoria: the USCGC Florence Finch is in town

Sep 04, 2024

Down at the 17th St dock by the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a brand new Coast Guard vessel, and she’s here to stay.

The USCGC Florence Finch is the second new cutter to be assigned to Astoria this year. The David Durien was our first. They replace the two departing cutters, the Alert and Steadfast, who were reassigned earlier this year.

The Florence Finch was named for a courageous woman who served in the Coast Guard during WWII. Today we’ll hear her story.

Transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript090424.pdf

With the advent of September, a look at the “two autumns”

Sep 03, 2024

Some folks say it’s already fall, while others say it won’t happen till Sept 22nd. We’ll take a look at who’s right – and it turns out they both are. As with many things, it depends on how you look at it. Today we’ll talk about the difference between meterological and astronomical autumn.

Show transcript: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript090324E.pdf

The Ship Report comes in small bites as SHIP REPORT MINUTES: The Fast Scoop on Maritime News and Info!

Monday through Friday (except major holidays) watch for 10-MINUTE SHIP REPORTS: Ship Traffic, Marine Weather, News and Interviews

Subscribe to the RSS feed.

The Ship Report is also broadcast Weekdays at 8:49 am on Coast Community Radio Astoria, Oregon

Follow The Ship Report on and