The Ship Report

A new storm looms for the coast, and - Santa is saved by the US Coast GuardWell, weather watchers are tracking an approaching storm that might (or might not) bring damaging winds to our area. We'll see how that shakes out.And today we'll hear a Ship Report holiday tradition: "Coastal Christmas," a retelling of the story of The Night Before Christmas, coastal- style. It's a book written by Long Beach Peninsula author Lynette Rae McAdams, illustrated by local artist Sally Lackaff.In this updated telling of the age-old tale: Santa is saved by the US Coast Guard after his sleigh ends up in the water, essentially saving Christmas. And Santa gets to head home to the North Pole with Dungeness Crab for Mrs. Santa.Happy Christmas to all!

'T is the season, for Dungeness crab, that isToday we'll talk about the opening at the end of this month of the 2025-26 Dungeness crab fishery in our local area. And hear an excerpt from a 2016 interview I did with a commercial crabber. His name is John Corbin, and he'll tell us a bit about the process of catching and harvesting Dungeness.

More weather as our next atmospheric river arrives todayThe fire hose of rain is aimed south of us in Clatsop County this time, but meteorologists predict we are looking at about and inch and half  in Astoria, and 3 inches or more Tillamook and points south.The big deal right now is a matter of time, rain and its long term effect on soils. It's been raining for awhile now and we are seeing the effects of saturated soils on trees, roadbeds and power lines. I read an interesting piece about how the more soaked the ground gets, the less wind it takes to know down a tree. And we are seeing older roadbeds collapse and landslides claim land and dover roads. So be careful out there – things in the landscape may not be the way you last saw them when you next venture out.

Today, a real look at how weather can affect ship trafficWe've got some rowdy weather on the Columbia River Bar today and it may cause ships to be delayed until the weather's better. We'll take a look at how that sort of thing works and what you can expect.

Another round of atmospheric river conditions kicks in TuesdayWe seem to be in an atmospheric river phase at the moment: we'll talk about what to expect today from a maritime perspective.

Another atmospheric river today - let's look at what's nextWe'll be looking at more atmospheric river activity this week. We'll take a look at what to expect. The short answer: with already saturated soils in our region, be prepared for power outages, landslides and downed trees. We'll also take a look at today's ship schedule.

A look at crazy rainfall totals from our atmospheric river, and what's next...Today we'll take a look at some really crazy rainfall totals from this week's storm, and a look at what's next as next week unfolds. The short answer: more rain.

A break in the weather, but experts say there's more to come in this rainy DecemberWe haven't seen the last of atmospheric river activity this month, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. We'll take a look at the long range forecast for what could shape up to be a very wet rest of December, and January.

Winter Boater Safety Inspection Event Dec. 27th in AstoriaIf you have a trailerable recreational boat registered in Oregon, consider bringing your boat down to the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Winter Boater Safety Inspection Station event later this month. If you have the right gear, you can get a 2026 Oregon Boater Safety Inspection sticker.It's happening Saturday, December 27 from 10 to 2, right across from Englund Marine at the Port of AstoriaYou'll need an up to date registration and some safety gear to qualify. It's not only the law, it's good safety stewardship for your vessel, the people you take on board, and any rescue personnel who might have to assist you in an emergency.Per the sheriff's office - To get your sticker, please bring the following six items:1. Current proof of registration for your boat2. Current registration year sticker posted next to your OR numbers3. Boater safety education course card or equivalent4. Non-expired, good-condition fire extinguisher5. Proper life jackets6. A throwable cushion or ring Depending on your vessel, you may also need a carburetor spark arrestor and a bilge fume blower.If you have questions, give the Clatsop County Sheriff's Marine Patrol office a call at 971-704-4465.

Atmospheric rivers on the wayA somewhat "geeky" look at our upcoming weather, which includes one, possibly two atmospheric rivers over the next week. I'll toss around (and explain) jargony terms like IVT and QPF, specific weather metrics that PNW meteorologists use to track weather intensity in rainy climates like ours.

The Great Coastal Gale of 2007 rememberedThis week in 2007, a series of damaging storms walloped our region, bringing high winds, rain and flooding, causing widespread damage.This week, we're looking at the usual wet winter weather. Eighteen years ago, it was a different story...Today, we remember the Great Coastal Gale of 2007.Special thanks to Long Beach Peninsula historian Frank Lehn, for his recollections shared in this show.

An Ilwaco tradition comes around again: The 19th annual Crabpot Tree lightingThis Saturday at 5 pm sharp, Ilwaco will hold its 19th annual Crabpot Christmas Tree lighting. It's a chance to come together to sing and honor a community tradition.The event also also honors beloved Ilwaco community member Clint Carter, who passed this year. He wrote the Crabpot Tree Carol, which you'll hear today on the show. This song is sung each year at the lighting of the tree, which is made entirely of Dungeness crabpots.

King Tides are back...We have another round of King Tides happening this week. Let's talk about what to expect, along with elevated sneaker wave risk on area beaches.

Holidays at seaIt's a good time of year to talk about holidays at sea, for sailors who are often far from home.

Barges: an integral part of the chain of commerceWe've seen a maritime story in the news recently about a barge that was taking on water in BC waters with containers on board. The story highlights how widely barges are used in marine commerce, although most of us don't notice they're out there, functioning as an integral part of the chain of commerce.In rural areas, they can also be a vital way for people to ship goods locally in a way that is much less expensive than other means.

A look at ships and cargoA look at who's on the river today, cargoes and anchorages.

A look at the weather, the ship schedule, and a note about short winter daysThe weather is about to do its thing again: wind, rain and elevated seas. Ships are coming and going as usual, so far. And for those feeling down about our short days, consider Utqiagvic (or Barrow), Alaska, which saw its last sunset of the year earlier this week. They'll live in darkness for 64 days until the sun returns in January.

Our third and final interview segment with long distance paddler Carmen PerezToday we'll hear the third and final segment of my interview with Carmen Perez, a long distance paddler who recently traveled 1200 miles in her canoe with her dog, Zuri.They traveled for two months, from the headwaters of the Columbia River in British Columbia to Clatsop Spit in Oregon, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean.

More from Carmen Perez, the gal who just canoed the length of the Columbia River with her dogToday we hear more from our interview with Carmen Perez, the gal who last week ended her two-month long journey canoeing the entire length of the Columbia River, from its headwaters in British Columbia, Canada, to Clatsop Spit in Oregon. She made the trip with her loyal dog, Zuri, a border collie mix.

Carmen Perez, 22-year old solo canoeist, ends her 1200 mile journey down the ColumbiaToday we'll hear from Carmen Perez, a 22-year old solo long distance canoeist, who last week finished her two-month, 1200 mile solo journey (with her dog!) from the headwaters of the Columbia to Clatsop Spit.

More weather changes, and a look at today's ship scheduleWe've got rain arriving and staying for the next few days. We'll also take a look at who's traveling on the river toda.y

A look at who's on the river todayWe've got some weather coming in, and we'll look at who's on the river today in terms of arriving and departing cargo vessels.

Mighty Fitz follow up - interview with a Coast GuardsmanToday, as a follow-up to yesterday's show about the sinking of the ore-carrier Edmund Fitzgerald 50 years ago on Lake Superior in 1975, we'll hear an interview with local resident Reid Johnson, who is now retired from the Coast Guard. He was 19 years old in1975, and serving on a USCG ship on Lake Huron the night the Fitz was lost in a storm.We'll also hear a poem from Fisher Poet Clem Starck about his real life experience hearing a nearby sister ship sink in a storm, while he himself was at sea within radio range, but unable to help.

The 50th anniversary of the wreck of the famous Great Lakes ore carrier, the Edmund FitzgeraldToday marks 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior on November 10, 11975 in Lake Superior. The Mighty Fitz, as she was called, was caught in the midst of a fierce storm with hurricane force winds. The ship was 17 miles from port when she was lost. All 29 members of her crew perished.This tragedy is commemorated in regional ceremonies each year, as residents honor these lost mariners, and all those who have lost their lives over the years in thousands of wrecks on the Great Lakes.Today we honor all mariners and their families, and recognize that despite safety improvements over the years, maritime work remains among the most dangerous profession worldwide.

More weather, ships arriving, and a look at a common cargo: tolueneWe'll take a look at a tanker coming into Kalama, whose cargo is a liquid called toluene. We'll talk about what it is and what it's used for. Turns out we all probably have some toluene in our lives.

King Tides and weather are hereKing Tides are happening today, so expect high tides around midday and an atmospheric river event that will amplify hazards on beaches and in flood prone areas. Be careful out there.

King Tides FAQWe've got King Tides happening starting tomorrow through Friday this week, and you've probably heard about it if you live in our coastal region.But what does that mean really? Today we'll talk about the nuts and bolts of King Tides - a sort of "King Tides FAQ."

King Tides happening this week, plus an atmospheric river, could bring beach and flooding hazardsWe've got King Tides arriving later this week, around the same time as the arrival of an atmospheric river weather system. Higher than normal tides and weather effects  could mean increased beach hazards, and some inland flooding.We'll keep an eye on it.

Big atmospheric river in store next weekI'm afraid it 's more weather - we'll take a look at a forecast from UW meteorologist Cliff Mass that bears watching, predicting a big atmospheric river headed our way next week.

A look at our evolving weather, and good thoughts for those in the path of Hurricane MelissaWe're looking at our evolving weather, and ships traveling on the river, with a "there but for the grace of God go I" moment of humility and solidarity for those in the path of Hurricane Melissa - which is battering Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba with sustained winds of 185 mph.

Who's on the river, and what's next for the weather?Today, a look at who's traveling on the river, including tugboats and a Military Sealift Command vessel. And a look at the next round of weather headed our way.

Accurate sources for weather (marine and land-based), road and emergency infoWith so much misinformation flying around on social media, and more bad weather on the way this week. I thought it would be helpful to share some trusted resources you can use to keep yourself up to date with accurate weather, road and emergency info.

Stormy weather is upon us - get ready for wind and rain, and possible power outagesThe stormy weather we've been promised all week is arriving today - be ready for gusty winds and heavy rain. We may see interruptions in ship traffic today and through the weekend. Expect power outages.

The coastal jet is here again - a disconcerting weather quirk of our maritime environmentShip captains don't like the coastal jet much. It's a quirky local weather phenomenon that can cause the weather to get worse the closer approaching ships get to the Columbia River Bar.Today we'll hear from Capt. Thron Riggs, who spent many years as a Columbia River Bar pilot, explaining what a coastal jet is.

The USS Plainview, a relic of lower Columbia history, beached in the shallows of Hungry HarborToday 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 remains where she is.

We've got some weather comin' inA look at this week's weather, which seems poised to take things up a notch in terms of stormy conditions. We've got an atmospheric river event coming out way. We'll see how it shakes out.

A look at Alaska's recent coastal weather disasterLast weekend a typhoon his western Alaska north of the Aleutians, with devastating consequences for coastal communities there. A reminder to all of us who live on the edge of the world, that most of our weather comes to us from the ocean.

A look at the ship schedule, the weather and the origin of the term "ides" on this, the Ides of OctoberIn the ancient Roman calendar, the Ides of March marked the 15th of that month, and a fateful day in history for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. In Shakespeare's play, named for him, the story recounts a historical fact: that Caesar was assassinated on March 15 (the Ides of March) in the year 44 BC.Thanks to Shakespeare, that term "ides" persists in our culture, but it's not just March. October has one too. And today is the Ides of October, a day that marks the middle of the month.We'll also take a look at our seesawing fall weather, and see who's on the river today moving cargo.

Interesting ships on the river TuesdayWhile all ships are inherently interesting, we have a few unusual ones passing by on Tuesday. One will visit the Port of Astoria.We'll see a new Military Sealift Command replenishment oiler headed to the Portland shipyard, a containership (we don't see them as often as we used to) headed to the Port of Portland, and a blue water cruise ship stopping for the day at the Port of Astoria.

A look at transit times - how long takes to get from one place to another by shipToday we'll look at transit times, how long it takes a ship to go from one place to another at sea, and here on the river.

The pilot boat Peacock, now a museum exhibit, was a real game changer for Columbia River commerceThis week marks 15 years since the pilot boat Peacock was lifted out of the Columbia River and placed on land, on the campus of the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, where she welcomes people traveling past the museum on Marine Drive.She's now a retired icon of Columbia River shipping, but when she first arrived here in the late 1960s, the Peacock opened a new era in river commerce. That was thsnks to her unprecedented ability to handle channeling weather conditions that previous pilot boats here could not.Today we'll honor the Peacock and talk about her work with the Columbia River Bar Pilots.

A look at who's on the river todayWe've got an abundant ship schedule today, so let's see who's on the river today, moving cargo or waiting their turn.

Listener question about marine pilots and how they board shipsI got an interesting listener question, about the way that marine pilot's board a ship using a pilot ladder. The answer illustrates how dangerous the job is, and how much pilots must rely on their own expertise and judgement, moment to moment, to safely do their jobs.

A blue water cruise ship heads downriver after a stint in PortlandToday we'll talk about an interesting and unusual sight that happened on Sunday on the river: a big bluewater cruise ship was heading downriver and out to sea from Portland.We'll talk about why she was all the way upriver in Portland, since such ships generally stop in Astoria and go no further upriver except perhaps to anchor off the downtown waterfront while they are in town for the day.

A look at our eccentric regional weatherToday we'll take a look at this week's storm, which brought stormy conditions some places around the region, but missed others.

Update on the weatherWell, in typical Mother Nature fashion, she's doing what she likes, and our predicted storm is a bit late. But arrive it will, and will likely make things messy for vessels out in it, and delay departures for ships that are in port here. We'll talk today about what to expect, with the usual caveat, "subject to change."

Weather comin' in, as we bid farewell to SeptemberWe have some of our usual, messy fall weather coming in today, and I thought it would be a good time to review some of the weather jargon we start to see in our forecasts at this time of year, and what those words and numbers mean.We'll talk about ships on the bar in bad weather, and also what's happening with other river bars along our PNW coast, where vessels may also be seeking refuge from the storm.

Big changes to the Ship Report this weekBig changes happening as of this week, with regard to the show.Beginning this week, the Ship Report will no longer air on KMUN on Fridays, but will air Monday-Thursday instead, and as a podcast on my website at shipreport.net.KMUN will air the Ship Report twice a day on the radio, at 8:49 am and again at 5:49 pm, Monday through Thursday.The changes come on the heels of big federal funding cuts to the station, which have resulted in their needing to make significant programming changes resulting from the loss of NPR programming.I completely respect the necessity for change in this situation, and support KMUN's efforts to regroup. I'm regrouping myself, and considering what's next for me in terms of Friday podcasts. I'll keep you posted as I sort it out.In the meantime, as always, I'll continue posting ship schedules on my website (shared on Facebook) and also marine weather on my Ship Report Facebook page.Thanks for your understanding. More to come.

The Polar Star is home from Antarctica, a sign of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in AntarcticaWe see many signs of fall in the Pacific Northwest, as cruise ships head south. One beloved ship, the icebreaker USCGC Polar Star, heads north to Seattle to prepare for another round of her annual mission: Operation Deep Freeze, where she breaks a navigable channel through pack ice to open McMurdo station to the world, which means access to supplies and fuel.

Who's on the river today?A look at today's ship traffic, and a change in the weather coming this weekend.

On any given day, there's a lot going on upriver with vessels that downriver folk don't seeThe Columbia River is a busy water highway, with lots of vessels working, many of them upriver in places that folks near Astoria and even upriver in Portland and Vancouver, don't see. Today we'll talk about some of what happens as vessels do their work upriver.