The Ship Report

The Pacific Collector: another interesting military vessel on the riverToday we see the Pacific Collector arriving from Honolulu, after a doing her specialized work of tracking missile defense testing. She's one of a host of US military ships we see on the river, along with her sister ship, the Pacific Collector.

Let's take a look at one shipLet's take a look at one ship on today's schedule. It's path traces a winding route from Russia through the Panama Canal to Portland, a journey of more than a month at sea.

Minding the weatherA look at today's gusty weather and how to plan accordingly if you're going out on a boat. One thing to remember: the experience of being on the river is very different when you are out on a boat from the way it is on land, even on the shore. And any precautions you take for the river goes double out in the ocean, where risks can be greater.

Staying safe on a boat means: prepare before you goNothing says summer like the 4th of July, comin' right up. If you're looking forward to boating this weekend, perhaps even in the ocean, here's a bit about how to give yourself the best opportunity to stay safe on our challenging but beautiful Pacific Northwest waterways.

A look at weather, ships and waterflow in the riverA little bit of everything today: a look at marine weather compared to land based forecasts, who's on the river today, and a bit about river flow and changing tides.

An overview of current ship trafficToday our ship schedule has just a few ships coming and going on the river. It's a good time to talk about the commerce we often don't see happening, that includes ships at anchor and ships already in port.

The Pacific Tracker: a specialized ship with a long and winding pastToday we will see the Pacific Tracker travel up the Columbia to Portland. She's a military missile tracking ship that's berthed at Swan Island's shipyard. An interesting aspect of this ship is her past: she's 60 years old, and has had various uses and names - including as a  bulk carrier and containership. A case in point about the lives of ships.

A look at the Tongue Point Job Corps Seamanship ProgramTo end our week-long series of talks with Len Tumbarello, Maritime Program Program Coordinator for NW Oregon Works, today we'll talk about his previous work running the Tongue Point Job Corps Seamanship program in Astoria, and the benefits the program offers to students.We did this interview before either of us knew about the federal cuts threatening Job Corps Centers nationwide.This week, a federal judge granted a national preliminary injunction that will halt the closure of Job Corps campuses for now.

A look at a career in the Coast GuardToday we continue my interview with Len Tumbarello, Maritime Program Coordinator for NW Oregon Works. We've been talking about maritime employment opportunities this week, but today we'll talk about Len's career in the Coast Guard: how he got started, and what he did as a member of the service.Most of us would know a Coast Guard ship, boat or helicopter if we saw one, but there are also many other opportunities for a career in the Guard.

Northwest Oregon Works Maritime Program, Part 3Today we continue hearing excerpts from my interview with Len Tumbarello, maritime program coordinator for Northwest Oregon Works. He's working to improve employment opportunities in the local maritime industry.

Northwest Oregon Works Maritime Program, Part 2Today we continue my interview with Northwest Oregon Works Maritime Program Coordinator Len Tumbarello, about what kinds of maritime industry employment opportunities this new program could help generate in the state, through funding and development of education and industry partnerships.

Northwest Oregon Works Maritime ProgramThis week we'll be talking with Len Tumbarello, Maritime Program Coordinator for NW Oregon Works. A Coast Guard veteran, Tumbarello also ran the seamanship education at the Tongue Point Job Corps Program in Astoria for years, helping young people prepare for jobs at sea.Now he's working with the this Oregon nonprofit to enhance maritime job opportunities for young people and adults, by building educational and business partnerships.

Farewell to one of my favorite authors: William LangewiescheToday we honor one of my favorite maritime authors: William Langewiesche, author of an incredible book called, The Outlaw Sea. One of the best works of maritime nonfiction I have ever read. It's on a list of cherished books I reread every few years. Many thanks to him for all his great work. Today we'll talk about him and about the Outlaw Sea.

A look at today's ships and their cargoWe'll talk a little today about ships on the river and their cargoes, which are primarily agricultural products and dry minerals.

Farewell to the beautiful barque EagleMonday we bid farewell to the USCG barque Eagle, the Coast Guard's training ship. She leaves Astoria headed south for San Francisco with a new cadre of cadets aboard, ready to learn the ropes about sailing a tall ship.

The Eagle lands in AstoriaFriday morning, the beautiful tall ship Eagle, the US Coast Guard's training ship, comes in from out at sea to the Port of Astoria, where she'll be available for tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here are the details:Arrive at the  Port of Astoria's Pier 1: around 11 am (this is a change from previous info per the bar pilots)Friday Tours: 3:30-7:00 pmSaturday Tours: 10 am to 7pmSunday Tours: 10 am to 7 pm.Monday: the Eagle heads out to sea (Departure Time TBA)

Eagle recap for Friday toursToday we'll take another look at the info about when and where you can tour the Eagle in Astoria. The original schedule, which was still out their earlier this week, was causing some confusion.On Friday, the Eagle will begin tours at 3:30 pm. On Saturday and Sunday at 10 am. And a reminder that you do not have to use Real ID to get aboard, Regular government issued ID, such as your driver's license will suffice.Latest info about USCG Barque Eagle Tours this weekend in Astoria:Eagle ToursFriday, June 13 (Friday info is different from previously released schedules, updated per the CG this week)Arrive at Port of Astoria Pier 1 around 12:30 pmOpen for tours: 3:30 - 7:00 pmSaturday, June 14Open for tours: 10 am - 7 pmSunday, June 15Open for tours: 10 am - 7 pmMonday: Underway, heading out to sea (will share time when I learn details)And just to verify: You can use regular government-issued ID (like a driver's license) to get aboard. You do NOT need Real ID for this tour.

Updated tour times for the Eagle in Astoria, and a listener question about the shipHere is the latest info, which I received Monday night, directly from the Coast Guard, regarding tours of the USCG Barque Eagle, which will be in Astoria beginning Friday. Note that this differs slightly from previous schedules which had Friday Tours beginning in the morning:Eagle ToursFriday, June 13Arrive at Port ofAstoria Pier 1 around 12:30 pmOpen for tours: 3:30- 7:00 pmSaturday, June 14Open for tours: 10am - 7 pmSunday, June 15Open for tours: 10am - 7 pmMonday: Underway,heading out to sea (will share time when I learn details)And just to verify:You can use regular government-issued ID (likea driver's license) to get aboard. You do NOT needReal ID for this tour.

Good news: Real ID not required for Eagle tours in AstoriaThe Rose Festival Fleet ships passed Astoria yesterday and headed out to sea.One of them will return to us at the end of the week for tours in Astoria and that's the USCG Barque Eagle, America's Tall Ship. She will be at the Port of Astoria for tours beginning on Friday.And before I talk about that more, some really good news that I have been getting a lot of questions about.OK, good news. I just verified with the Port of Astoria that when the Eagle is at the Port this coming weekend, you can board her for a tour with government issued ID, like your driver's license. It does NOT have to be Real ID.Sincere apologies for any confusion about this issue. Sources I consulted earlier said we did need Real ID, but that turned out to be incorrect.But the good news is you can (according to the Port) just show up with your regular ID to board the ship. Whew. I've been stressing over this one. I want everyone to be able to get on board. She's a beautiful ship.Current info about tours (from the Eagle's Facebook page):Come see us at Pier 1 in Astoria where we'll be offering free public tours during the following dates and times:• Friday, June 13: TBD• Saturday, June 14: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.• Sunday, June 15: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.No tickets are required, and tours are free of charge. See you then!-----------------------------------------I'll share any updates about Friday tour hours when/if I learn more.

What's next with the Rose Festival Fleet, and a bit more about that car ship fire off AlaskaThe Rose Festival Fleet will beginning their return trip downriver and out to sea over the weekend. We'll see the first visiting ship leave Portland on Sunday, and the rest on Monday. He USCG Barque Eagle will head out to sea Monday but will return at the end of next week for tours in Astoria.

Car ship blaze off Alaska shows dangers of shipboard fires, especially involving EVsThere's a car ship ablaze off the coast of the Aleutians, after a fire started on board. The crew has been safely evacuated but the ship remains on fire. We'll talk about the dangers of shipboard fires, made worse in the modern era of electric vehicles (EVs).

Wednesday Fleet Week updateToday we'll take a look at ships heading upriver for the Rose Festival today: the USCG Barque Eagle and the Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Nanaimo. Expect the Eagle to leave Astoria around 7:30am and around 8:30am the Nanaimo will pass Astoria inbound.For info about tours in Portland, go to rosefestival.org and click on the Fleet Week link.

The USCG barque Eagle comes into the Columbia, and the Rose Festival Fleet begins its journey upriverTuesday morning early we'll see the USCGC Eagle arrive on the Columbia. She'll cross the bar around 6 am and be in Astoria around 8:30am. The two US Navy ships at the Port of Astoria will head upriver to Portland. The Rose Festival Fleet is here and on the move.Today, more details on today's ships.

The Rose Festival Fleet goes upriver this weekThis week the visiting ships that comprise the Rose Festival Fleet will pass by Astoria and other points on the river to Portland. Ships will dock at the seawall at Tom McCall Park and be available for tours there.We have several ships heading past Astoria this week. Here's the list of ships and when we'll likely see them:Tuesday:USS Mustin - US Navy guided missile destroyer - Depart Port of Astoria ~8am Tuesday/ Portland ~3:30pmUSS Jack H Lucas - US Navy guided missile destroyer - Depart Port of Astoria ~8:30am Tuesday/ Portland ~4pmHMCS Nanaimo - Canadian Navy maritime coastal defence vessel - Passing Astoria ~8:30am Tuesday/ Portland ~4pmWednesday:USCGC Eagle - inbound past Astoria ~9:30am Wednesday/ Portland ~3:30pmMore info see the Rose Festival Fleet website: https://www.rosefestival.org/events/2025/fleetweekTrack ships in real time on vesselfinder or marinetraffic. Be aware that some military ships do not display AIS for security reasons or are designated as military with numbers instead of names.

A US Navy ship arrives for tours in Astoria, the Rose Festival Fleet, and dredge season on the riverAn opportunity Saturday to tour a US Navy ship that arrives at the Port of Astoria today. Likely the first of next week's Rose Festival Fleet of arriving ships, including the USCG tall ship Eagle.And it's dredge season on the Columbia River - and we'll be seeing at least one of these specialized vessels on the river for the rest of the year, doing her part to keep our ship channel free and clear for vessels. We'll talk about what these ships do here and about their special role in the maritime industry.

Maritime scholarship for students opens doors to educationToday we'll talk about a scholarship being offered through the Portland Merchant Exchange. It's an opportunity for students interested in a career in the maritime industry to get some funding assistance with their education.

Should you sail to Hawaii like Oliver Widger?It's a wonderful story about a person escaping a soul-crushing rut, and making a bold decision to pursue a dream. Oregonian Oliver Widger sailed out of Warrenton last month (with his cat) and made it safely all the way to Hawaii. He quit his job, bought a boat and sailed away, despite having little experience as a sailor.We've all dreamed of escaping at one time or another. So this begs the question: should you sail to Hawaii alone? Maybe. We'll talk today about what it takes.

Where do ships go when they travel on the river?Today we'll take a look at where ships go where they come to the Columbia. When we talk about the ship schedule, we hear that some ships are going to Portland, but some to the Port of Portland. What's the difference? We'll talk about all the options for ships when they arrive and have to go somewhere.

Two interesting vessels arriving in the river todayToday we'll talk about the first two arrivals on the river today: one a commercial fishing vessel coming into the river from Canada, and the other a bulk carrier here to pick up scrap metal.

Who's on the river today?Today a look at who's on the river today in terms of cargo vessels. A bit of gypsum, some cars, refined petroleum - and lots and lots of wheat.

Who's on the river today, and was that a containership we saw a few days ago? Yes, it was.A look at today's ship traffic, and a bit about why we are seeing some containerships here again.

Tall ship accident shows the dangers of big rivers for vessels when something goes wrongIn the news this week is the accident in NY harbor, where a visiting tall ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge as the vessel was attempting to head out to sea. We'll talk about the dangers of big rivers, and about tall ships that are used round the world to train cadets for the military in different countries, including the US.

PNW Offshore Race 2025On Thursday morning, 19 sailboats set out from Ilwaco, Wash., out to sea across the Columbia River Bar. At an appointed time, they crossed the starting line and began a four-day race northward, 193 miles to Victoria, BC. The annual PNW Offshore Race is underway.

Cruise ship in town today, and a look at who else is on the riverToday, another repositioning cruise visits Astoria, as blue water cruise ships make their annual spring migration up the West Coast, to their northern summer vacation grounds in BC and Alaska.And a quick look at today, the Ides of May.

Farewell, Clint CarterToday we honor a local business owner, North Coast Blues musician, and well loved community member who was instrumental in organizing iconic music festivals on the Long Beach Peninsula. Farewell, Clint Carter. We miss you already. Clint passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.He was also a person whose voice was heard every year on the Ship Report around the holidays.Today I'll share a Ship Report annual tradition (a little earlier than usual) - a song Clint wrote, and sang with the Ilwaco Merchants Association: the Crabpot Tree Carol. It's been a staple for years at Christmastime on the Peninsula, at the annual lighting of the Crabpot Christmas Tree.

Two unusual vessels on the river todayToday we'll see two unusual vessels on the river, the cable ship Global Sentinel and the Offshore Support Vessel HOS Black Watch. Neither one is a cargo ship. Instead, both are specialized work vessels that do specific tasks in the maritime industry.

An unusual cruise ship heads to Portland todayToday we'll see the Pride of American cruise ship arrive from Hawaii and head past Astoria (not stopping there) and head upriver to the shipyard in Portland for maintenance. Arriving from Hawaii, she has no passengers on board. An unusual thing about her is that she's US flagged, because her cruise route takes her between the Hawaiian Islands, all part of the state of Hawaii. That makes her a Jones Act vessel, and as such she must be US flagged, US-built and crewed by US citizens or nationals.

What determines transit time on the river? Lots of factors, that include current, tides and displacement Today we'll talk a little about a somewhat mindboggling topic: what happens when a ship goes by... it's connected to transit time, how long it takes a ship to get from one place to another. Massive ships move lots of water when they travel, and ships here are up against heavy current and tidal influences. We'll talk about what defines transit time of the river.

With another big cruise ship in town, we look at what's next for Astoria this seasonWe have yet another huge, blue-water cruise ship in town, those behemoths that come in from out in the ocean to dock in Astoria for the day. Today we'll take a look at what's ahead for the Port of Astoria's cruise ship season.

A look at who's on the river todayA look at ship traffic, with some diversions into the "whats" and "whys" of particular ships traveling on the river today.

Listener question about anchored ships and what it says about sudden public interest in shippingI got a listener question from someone this weekend who asked me why there were ships anchored in the river off Astoria. It's a telling question, in this season of public anxiety about tariffs. We'll talk about why those ships are a normal part of life here, and how to learn more about what may happen next.

Why so many cruise ships in Astoria all of a sudden? The answer is "repositioning cruises"Today we'll talk about marine weather and ship schedules, but also about why there were so many cruise ships in Astoria this week. The answer lies in a cruise industry protocol that happens around this time of year: repositioning cruises, to take ships from their winter grounds to their summer grounds. Astoria is along the way for these West Coast maneuvers, and people like out city. So they stop here along the way to somewhere else.

An unusual cruise ship adventure in the river todayLots of folks saw that big cruise ship sitting at anchor near Warrenton, instead of at the Port of Astoria where we all thought she should be.Turns out Mother Nature had other plans for her... there was a extra-low low tide this morning, and that meant that the ship had to wait in deeper water for the tide to rise, so there would be enough deep water at the dock so she could tie up there.It was a planned maneuver executed by the bar pilots. Once the tide rose enough, the ship was able by midday to head to the dock.Part of the unseen expertise that keeps ships of all kinds safe on the river.

Where exactly is the Columbia River Bar?Today, a perennial question that comes up now and again: where actually is the Columbia River Bar? It opens the door to an interesting and complex answer about how the river works and influences all our lives here.

Who's on the river today, and a look at a particular cargoA look at daily ship traffic and a particular cargo that goes to Longview: industrial salt.

The Vigorous drydock in Portland's shipyard is an unusual maritime marvelToday, an answer to a listener question about the Vigorous dry dock at the Swan Island shipyard in Portland. It's an engineering marvel, and the largest floating drydock in North America. We'll take a closer look.

Who's on the river today?A bit about today's ships: berths, cargo, anchorages - among the reasons ships come here to the Columbia River.

A look at what we know about this year's Rose Festival Fleet, and also, a big cruise ship in PortlandTwo things today: first, a look at preliminary info about this year's Rose Festival Fleet of visiting military ships due here in June on the river. And, why was there a big ocean-going cruise ship heading upriver recently? We'll talk about all of that, and a look at marine weather and ship traffic for today.

Self loading ships, a special breedToday we have an unusual cargo ship on the river: a self loader called the CSL Tecumseh. She's bringing gypsum to Rainier. What makes her unusual is she has all the gear she needs to load and unload her own cargo at the dock. We'll talk about why that's important.

A closer look at the Columbia's new ship anchorage, and a bit about anchoring on the riverEarlier this month, I made a passing reference to there being a new ship anchorage on the Columbia River near Skamakowa. Today we'll look at that in more depth and talk about the complicated affair of anchoring a gigantic ship on a swift, powerful and capricious river.

Special Ship Report archive interview: all about car ships - Part 5This week we'll be talking about those unusual looking ships we see on the river, the big blocky carships, called ROROs, for Roll-on/Roll-off. They bring us our cars, and they're complex vessels. We'll talk with a bar pilot about what they're like inside and what it takes to pilot one.