Portland sees increased container traffic from Asia

The Port of Portland is the Columbia River’s only container port. The volume of containers  handled here is tiny compared to quantities at other West Coast ports. But that’s changing as Asian shippers look for congestion free ports to process their cargo. There will now be even more container ships calling on Portland, as one shipper adds the port to its trans Pacific itinerary.

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Icy weather hazards at sea

When winter weather gets cold enough to start freezing sea spray on decks and rigging, this brings its own set of nightmares for people working at sea.

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A Coastal Christmas

Today, an annual Ship Report tradition: a reading of “A Coastal Christmas,” a charming take on “The Night Before Christmas,” written by Long Beach Peninsula author Lynette Rae McAdams and illustrated by Astoria artist Sally Lackaff.

It’s a classic maritime tale, in which Santa gets into trouble on the water, and is rescued by fishermen and the U.S. Coast Guard. Together, they save Christmas.

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Microplastics in the Columbia River, Part 2

In this two part Ship Report, we’re talking about microplastics in our waters and in the Columbia River in particular. In a recent online talk sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper, we hear from Idaho professor and researcher Kirsten Kapp, who studies microplastics – tiny bits of plastic – in our natural environment.

Today we look at microplastics in our Columbia River water, and what we as citizens and consumers can do about it.

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Microplastics in the Columbia River, Part 1

In this two part Ship Report, we’re talking about microplastics in our waters and in the Columbia River in particular. In a recent online talk sponsored by Columbia Riverkeeper, we hear from Idaho professor and researcher Kirsten Kapp, who studies microplastics – tiny bits of plastic – in our natural environment.

In Part 1 today we look at where microplastics come from and where they end up.

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The macabre and queasy maritime story of artificial vanilla extract

It’s a hard to believe scenario with multiple layers: yes, vanilla extract is found in our waterways around the holidays in embarrassing quantities, courtesy of our sewer systems.

Worse, it’s mostly artificial vanilla extract – not even the real thing. But that’s not all.

Today we took a look at the oddly spicey pollutants in our waters at this time of year, and where artificial vanilla flavor really comes from.

Spoiler: it’s probably best that you not be eating when you listen to this one, and our story has to do with a furry, water-loving animal called a beaver.

Image: Engraving of a Beaver. Thomas Pennant, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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A closer look at ships on the river

Today we take a close look at the ships on the Columbia River, where they’re from, where they’re going, and what’s on board.

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Working at sea: risky business

More about the risks mariners face when they work on vessels at sea.

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Winter weather is happening out there, whether we on land know it or not

A look at difficult winter weather in the ocean offshore, a place where most land dwellers will never go.

Photo: Big waves on the Columbia River Bar. Image courtesy Columbia River Bar Pilots.

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