The Ship Report

The Ship Report, Thursday, September 17, 2026A listener asked me about what dew point is, and in the process of checking into it, I also learned about relative humidity.These two terms, which appear in most weather reports, have to do with water vapor in the air and are actually quite important measurements for people in some professions to know.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, September 16, 2026Our ship schedule continues to be robust, so let's take a look.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, September 15, 2026After months of relatively small ship schedules, this week we're seeing an abundance of ships. Let's take a look!

The Ship Report, Monday, September 14, 2026As KMUN begins its fall pledge drive tomorrow, a little about how the Ship Report started there, and why I'm so grateful for this community station in Astoria, Oregon.

The Ship Report, Thursday, September 10, 2026Today we remember a tragic day in US history: September 11, 2001, when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington DC. A third hijacked plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, commandeered by heroic passengers, who took the plan down rather than let it complete its terrible mission, which was to hit the US Capitol Building.In the midst of terrible chaos and destruction, an amazing rescue mission unfolded in NY Harbor: Boatlift, organized by the Coast Guard.They called all available boats in the waters of metropolitan NY and New Jersey to help evacuate people stranded after the towers fell. What resulted was a supreme act of spontaneous mariner heroism, as boat after boat converged on the southern end of Manhattan, to help evacuate hundreds of thousands of survivors from the island.In the midst of tragedy, our mariners showed us the best we can be.Link to the film Boatlift: https://youtu.be/MDOrzF7B2Kg?si=Wa5CQ4oJMw_baJDXImage: USACE NY, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia CommonsCaption: Patrol Boat Hocking heads toward lower Manhattan on 9/11 to provide assistance following the attacks on the World Trade Center. PB Hocking was one of many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessels from various Districts that were on the waters of the New York and New Jersey Harbor that day helping to ferry evacuees from lower Manhattan and bringing in emergency responders on return trips. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers file photo)

The Ship Report, Wednesday, September 9, 2026The Pacific Collector, a US military missile defense tracking ship, will head outbound from Portland Wednesday around 9 am, passing Astoria around 3. She's one of a pair of ships with a similar mission: to gather data about missile defense testing. She's unusual looking in that she has large radar arrays on deck that look like huge golf balls.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, September 8, 2026Sixteen sailboats left Les Sables D'Olonne, France, over the weekend to compete in a unique race called the Golden Globe.Participants sail solo in boats equipped only with technology available when the race was first run in 1968. That means no GPS, no satellite connectivity, no cell or sat phones. Sextant and compass to navigate, radio for communication, and a willingness to spend 8 months or more alone at sea. They'll sail to the bottom of the world using the "Clipper Route" and if all goes well, pass south of all the fearsome capes of the world, including infamous Cape Horn. Then they'll said up the Atlantic and end the race in France where they started.As in 2022, only one entrant is a woman. Last time, Kirsten Neuschafer of South Africa won the race, becoming only the second woman to enter and the first ever to win. This year, Norwegian Helga Marie (Mara) Løvenskiold Kveseth is now the third.

The Ship Report, Thursday, September 3, 2026While I've talked about the need to understand and work with current on the river, it seems that some vessels go out there any old time and do well. Let's talk today about why that's the case. It has to do with vessel design, physics, friction and horsepower.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, September 2, 2026We're having our first fall storm of the season today, and that brings the potential for interruptions to ship traffic as sea heights increase. Even if that's not what happens today, most assuredly sometime soon it will.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, September 1, 2026It's September 1st, and that means the end of meteorological summer and the beginning of meteorological fall. A slightly different designation than standard fall later in the month, it's used by weather scientists to keep track of weather patterns. And right on time, our weather is obliging with wind and rain, and cooling temperatures.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 31, 2026Another kind of ship we see fairly often here on the river is the research vessel. It's cargo is live people: scientists whose mission is the study the oceanographic environment. As it turns out, the Columbia River is an ideal option for ships who are in our region of the Pacific and need to make landfall for various routine reasons.

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 27, 2026We'll talk about a recent blog post from UW meteorologist Cliff Mass, talking about the cooling trend we are entering in our weather, as fall makes its presence known. It will be cool on the coast and cooler inland. 

The Ship Report, Wednesday, August 26, 2026Today we'll hear the second of a two-part interview on ship lights from the Ship Report archives, from an interview I did years ago with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson. Light colors and placement are not random, and their patterns hold great meaning for other vessels that may see them at night. Today we'll also learn about the vital role lights play when a helicopter is at sea at night, dropping off or picking up a pilot in the dark.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 25, 2026Today we'll hear the first of a two-part interview on ship lights from the Ship Report archives, from an interview I did years ago with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson. Light colors and placement are not random, and their patterns hold great meaning for other vessels that may see them at night. There are running lights, which give other vessels important information about a vessel's location and heading, and work lights, which allow crews to work safely at night on deck and allow the ship to be clearly seen at anchor.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 24, 2026Today we'll talk about an important term in marine weather: the concept of "significant wave height." Understanding the meaning of this term can give you a more realistic expectation of what the weather may be like at sea when you go out in a vessel.

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 20, 2026Today we'll talk about the approach of autumn, shorter days and the different kinds of twilight we experience as the sun rises and sets.

The Ship Report: Wednesday, August 19, 2026Today we'll take a look at the Crystal Symphony, a luxury cruise ship that will be in Astoria on Wednesday. She's just begun a 39 day cruise that started earlier this week in Vancouver, BC, that will take her down the West Coast, to Mexico, through the Panama Canal, visiting various locations in South America and the Caribbean, and eventually to New York City.Image: the Crystal Symphony in Alaska waters. Photo credit: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 18, 2026Today, a look at who's coming and going on the river, and since we frequently see ships arriving from Vancouver. BC, going to Vancouver, WA, I thought it would be fun to talk about how these namesake cities got their names.Plus, in our weather, "Fogust" returns with foggy conditions, especially on the river.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 1 7, 2026Today I'd like to answer this question from another angle, after seeing someone post a photo of a calm Columbia River Bar on a recent day, from the perspective of being out there on the water in that area in a small boat. And essentially posing the question: "It looks pretty calm to me...What's the big deal?"So today we'll talk about this a bit. The answer, in a nutshell, is: timing...

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 13, 2026Today we'll talk more about how tides change all the time here, and affect us on both the river and ocean beaches. And how this information is practical to know as we go about our daily lives, even if we never go near the water.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, August 12, 2026Today, we take a look at the strain vessels are under in the work they do.And how weather can push things to the breaking point, causing lines and wires to "part" or break, with sometimes catastrophic results.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 11, 2026Today we'll talk about a useful guideline for navigating in heavily tidal waters like the Columbia. It's called the Rule of 12ths.The Rule of 12ths divides the tidal cycle into segments, and shows when the most active times are happening. It offers a useful pattern to determine when the falling or rising tide will be exerting its strongest influence in the river.A good tool to decide when to go out in a small boat, what times to avoid, and how to use the tide to your advantage if you are traveling on the river.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 10, 2026Today we'll look at today's abundant ship schedule, and also take a look at this week's tides, which feature pretty big tidal swings between high and low tide. This can be an issue for people on the river in boats, as many people are during this month's Buoy 10 salmon fishing season on the Columbia.

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 6, 2026. While ship traffic may seem slow some days on the lower river near the Columbia's mouth, there's plenty happening upriver near busy ports, and inland as far as Idaho. We'll talk about upriver traffic on this busy marine highway, which includes the Snake River and Lewiston, Idaho.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, August 5, 2026A listener sent me an interesting question this week: asking why pilot transfers happen while ships are moving, because the process seems unsafe.Today I'll talk about why this practice remains the best and safest way to handle that pilot boat maneuver here (and in many places around the world). And yes, it is inherently risky, even with all efforts to make maritime piloting as safe as possible.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 4, 2026The National Weather Service warns us this week to expect wildfire smoke on the coast, thanks to a change in wind direction. We'll talk about current air quality readings around the region, and what to expect.Image: A smoky haze hung over Astoria on Monday, as inland wildfire smoke makes its way to the coast. Photo by Joanne Rideout

The Ship Report, Monday, August 3, 2026The Buoy 10 fishing season is in full swing here on the lower Columbia, and I thought I would share my happy observations on our local docks yesterday afternoon. Also a few things to think about if you are going out here in a small boat to fish on the Columbia.

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 30, 2026On Saturday, August 1, we'll see a big influx of small fishing boats on the Columbia River off Astoria, Warrenton and Hammond. The beginning of August marks the start of an annual ritual, when the Buoy 10 fishery opens. The fishery area extends from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the river to Tongue Point on the east end of Astoria. Hundreds of boats will gather as anglers do their best to catch salmon.This busy time on the lower river means lots of potential interactions between ships and small boats. Today we'll hear from Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Dan Jordan, about the risks this situation can pose when it comes to big ships vs. other craft in a narrow ship channel.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 29, 2026We haven't looked at ship schedules lately, so let's see who's coming and going on the river today.

The Ship Report: Tuesday, July 28, 2026Today we'll take a look at a ship that was recently in the Columbia River at the Portland shipyard: the USCGC Healy, a Coast Guard icebreaker. She ran into serious mechanical issues during sea trials in the Strait of Juan De Fuca, and was towed to Seattle for repairs.The ship had just finished a shipyard repair period. Today we'll talk about what it how ships prepare for problems, and why a breakdown during a sea trial is the very best time for it to happen.

The Ship Report, Monday, July 27, 2026Glad to be back from last week off, with the answer to a listener question, and a little about "how I spent my summer vacation" with a bit about my beloved boat.

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 23, 2026This week I'm taking a little much needed time off, so we'll be hearing a bit from the Ship Report archives, a really interesting interview i did with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson, sometime in the early 2000s, all about the often-seen bulk carrier, the most common type of ship we see on the Columbia. There's a great deal to know, and we talk about a lot of it. Enjoy! Today is Part 4.The Ship Report will return with new content, ship schedules and marine weather, on Monday, July 27.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 22, 2026This week I'm taking a little much needed time off, so we'll be hearing a bit from the Ship Report archives, a really interesting interview i did with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson, sometime in the early 2000s, all about the often-seen bulk carrier, the most common type of ship we see on the Columbia. There's a great deal to know, and we talk about a lot of it. Enjoy! Today is Part 3.The Ship Report will return with new content, ship schedules and marine weather, on Monday, July 27.

The Ship Report: Monday, July 21, 2026This week I'm taking a little much needed time off, so we'll be hearing a bit from the Ship Report archives, a really interesting interview i did with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson, sometime in the early 2000s, all about the often-seen bulk carrier, the most common type of ship we see on the Columbia. There's a great deal to know, and we talk about a lot of it. Enjoy! Today is Part 2.The Ship Report will return with new content, ship schedules and marine weather, on Monday, July 27.

The Ship Report, Monday, July 20, 2026This week I'm taking a little much needed time off, so we'll be hearing a bit from the Ship Report archives, a really interesting interview i did with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson, sometime in the early 2000s, all about the often-seen bulk carrier, the most common type of ship we see on the Columbia. There's a great deal to know, and we talk about a lot of it. Enjoy! Today is Part 1.The Ship Report will return with new content, ship schedules and marine weather, on Monday, July 27.

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 16, 2026in our region's maritime history, the Columbia River Bar has long been known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, because of all the vessels lost there, at the mouth of the river. Nowadays, even with all our high tech modern gear and resources, it's still considered one of the most dangerous river entrances in the world. Today we'll talk about some of the reasons why.

The Ship Report, July 15, 2026The historic fireboat David Campbell found a permanent place in history yesterday, after being placed on land at Astoria's Columbia River Maritime Museum. A big crowd turned out to watch the proceedings, which involved lifting the 244,00 lb. boat off a barge and carefully placing her on land as an outdoor exhibit, soon to be open to the public.  The boat has a long. honored history of service in the Portland area.Today we'll talk about her new role educating the public, and about fireboats and what they do.Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons. The David Campbell in past years welcoming the Rose Festival Fleet to Portland, Oregon.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, July 14, 2026Today we'll talk about economies of scale in the maritime industry, which means that the more you can ship at once in a single vessel, the more money you save in transportation costs. Sounds pretty dull, right?Well, when you start looking at the numbers, it's really kind of mind boggling. The amount of cargo a single barge can carry compared to say, a train of freight cars, or a fleet of semis, is pretty incredible. We'll learn why they say barges are the cheapest mode of transport in the US. And when it comes to ships, the numbers go even higher.

The Ship Report, Monday, July 7, 2026Today we'll look at some of the ordinary things that add up to an interesting day in the region, in terms of maritime things.Winds should die down later this week, and a look at some details about ships on today's schedule.

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 9, 2026For some folks, seeing a list of ships coming in and out of the river is just that - a list.When I look at them, I see all kinds of details that I've learned from many conversations I've had over the years with career mariners in our region and beyond.I've soaked up what they told me, because I found it fascinating. It's rewarding for me to share that with you here on the show.So we'll talk a bit about marine weather and then take a look at a couple of ships, and a bit of what they're about.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 8, 2026Today we'll talk about how we can look for clues in the marine environment right in front of us, or use readily available information, to keep us safe and enjoying life as we use the river and ocean beaches. We'll talk about some things locals know that allow them to work with, instead of against, the immense power of the Columbia River and the ocean.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, July 7, 2026It's another unseen piece of the maritime industry puzzle: how do ships get cargoes on and off. We'll take a look at some of the most common practices.

The Ship Report, Monday, July 7, 2026Today we have a small ship schedule, and that presents two opportunities for me here: to reassure you that a day here and there with fewer ships is not a trend. It's just what happens. And also, I have a chance to use this time to look at the ships that are here in more depth. There's a lot of interesting detail to talk about. Let's take a look…

The Ship Report, Thursday, July 2, 2026This week we're celebrating the birthday of legendary ship captain and maritime pilot Captain Deborah Dempsey. She was a Columbia River Bar Pilot for decades here in Astoria. She sailed around the world as the master of big ships. And from her admission into the Maine Maritime Academy in the 1970s to her hiring as a bar pilot, her life as been filled with instances where she has been the first woman to do many of the jobs s he has held in the maritime industry. She's also a heckuva nice person, a good friend and an incredible mariner. Happy Birthday, Deb!

The Ship Report, Wednesday, July 1, 2026Today I'll answer a couple of listener questions about what it means when ship traffic numbers are low (hint: not much on a given day), and a question about car ships and why they never seem to look different whether they have loaded or unloaded cargo (the secret decoder phrase is: ballast water).

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 30, 2026Today, an "unusual ship alert" for a unique US Coast Guard ship that we hardly ever see on the Columbia. The USCG Cutter Healy, the Guard's largest ship and an icebreaker, has been at the Portland Vigor shipyard since January for maintenance and repairs.She heads downriver and out to sea today. We'll talk about her unusual mission and capabilities, which include breaking through 4.5 feet of solid ice, and hosting scientific crews hoping to study high latitude waters near the North Pole.

The Ship Report, June 29, 2026It was in the “ordinary things we take for granted that are quite important” department: the National Weather Service on Sunday suddenly did not have weather forecasts available to the public on their website, thanks to an IT issue. As they worked to fix it, we went a few hours without updated weather info. Maybe not the end of the world in most cases, but for folks in parts of the country experiencing severe weather, accurate updated NWS warnings could be lifesaving.Today we talk about the importance of this taxpayer-funded service, which is free to the public, and relied upon by land dwellers and mariners alike. How its data is the basis for most forecasts across many platforms and apps. And how we take for granted the complex system that makes it possible.

The Ship Report, Thursday, June 25, 2026Continuing the theme of ships in the anchorage this week, I thought I would share another listener question about anchored ships. It has to do with a frequent choice ships make, which is to deploy the anchor on the port side instead of the starboard side when anchoring off Astoria.It's an interesting question with an equally interesting answer, that shows the level of complexity of even ordinary things relating to vessels.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, June 24, 2026Today I'll answer a listener question about why anchored ships can look so disorganized. It happens when the tide is changing on the river.It's a good question that involves water flow, natural systems, and reflects the complex and amazing place we live in.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, June 23, 2026The amazing anchor chainShips sitting calmly in the anchorage are actually far from still: they're doing a slow dance around an ingenious anchor and chain system that works in strong currents, acting like a spring, to protect the ship and keep it stable.

The Ship Report, Monday, June 22, 2026Today, an update on the ocean sensors story from last week, and a look at how wind and tide greatly affect river conditions - something to pay attention to if you're going out in a boat.