The Ship Report

The Pacific NW Offshore race beginsThis morning, 50 boats will set off from the mouth of the Columbia River headed for Victoria, BC, participating in the 50th annual Pacific NW Offshore race. These are racing and cruising sailboats approximately 30 to 40 feet long (some larger). They'll spend a couple of days at sea in windy, rainy conditions.We'll take a look at what's in store for racers, and also how you can track their progress.

PNW Offshore Race starts Thursday, open house in Ilwaco todayToday from 11 to 2, you can stop by the Port of Ilwaco and see some of the 50 sailboats getting ready for the 50th annual PNW Offshore Race from the Columbia River to Victoria BC.Also, two interesting military ships arrive in the river today, headed for the Portland shipyard.

Ships can be a noisy environment for marinersToday we'll talk about workplace noise on ships and other commercial vessels. Noise and vibration are occupational hazards for people working aboard. We'll talk about the risks, and what mariners do to protect themselves.

As our spring weather forecast evolves, a look ahead at La Nino and El Nino in the PacificAccording to UW meteorologist Cliff Mass, we have some rain coming our way this week and later in the month. It’s a sign of a switch from La Nina to El Nino conditions in the Pacific. Today we’ll take a look at what these two climate terms mean.

June Gloom comes a bit early this yearToday we’ll take a look at a regular but not always welcome Pacific Northwest springtime phenomenon: The pervasive “June Gloom,” when that cool hazy marine layer shows up, and stays.So our weather is cool but not cold, not really sunny (but sometimes kind of sunny) but not raining either. It’s what happens this time of year.Meteorologists call it June Gloom, and this year it showed up a bit early.

A bit about fog (and fog horns), a signature sight (and sound) of maritime communitiesWe hear fog horns quite often in the waters near Astoria and elsewhere on the river. Today we’ll talk about why they are necessary, legally required and a signature feature of maritime communities.

Another look at the deceptive conundrum of cold water and safetyWe live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its beauty rivals any resort on the planet. On a sunny day, it's paradise. So why all the warnings about staying out of the water even in summer?Today we'll explore (in a little more depth) the topic of cold water dangers in the Pacific Northwest, and why the water never really warms up here.

Pilot basics: a look at maritime pilots on the riverFor new folks in town, or listeners new to the show, here's a basic look at what's going on out there on the river off Astoria in terms of maritime pilots: those seasoned, expert professionals who help transiting ships get safely in and out of the river.We have two different sets of pilots here, and we'll talk about what they do, and how (if you are observant) you can see them at work.

The lives of shipsWhen you see a ship passing on the river, whether inbound or outbound, what you are seeing is a brief snapshot in the long life of that vessel, and the lives of the folks on board. Today we'll talk about the lives of ships.

Tides: how they're measured and why they happenTides play such a big role in our waters both on the ocean and the river. It's good to revisit some things about them from time to time: like why they happen, how they are measured, and how they can complicate things for folks out on the river in vessels, but make things more fun for clammers.

Cool spring conditions remind us of cold water dangersA reminder that we live in the Pacific Northwest, a beautiful place with cold waters and strong currents year round. As the weather gets nice, let's keep in mind that our waters remain chilly and life threatening for the unprepared.

A look at how ships load and balance cargo, and why it's so importantCargo is loaded onto ships very deliberately and with a lot of calculation and forethought. Part of the reason is to anticipate how that cargo must be unloaded and in what order, at the dock.But even more important, imbalanced cargo can lead to tragedy and loss at sea, and even right at the dock.

Polar Star returns from AntarcticaI always like talking about this ship, because of her unique job and the role she plays in keeping people safe in a challenging part of the world.The USCG icebreaker Polar Star is a ship specially designed to handle difficult conditions that would sink most vessels. She's an older ship, but well maintained, and she just returned from a special annual mission in Antarctica.

Weather and some ship talkToday we talk about the weather - always a fascinating topic in our coastal region. And some interesting details about today's arriving ships.

Norwegian Jade in town, and a look at tides and shipsA few things today: a closer look at our cruise ship du jour in Astoria, a look at ships coming and going, and a reminder of how ships at anchor let us know what the tide is doing.

Second cruise ship of the season comes to Astoria ThursdayThe second cruise ship of the season comes to Astoria on Thursday, and it's a good opportunity to talk more about these big ships, carrying many passengers, and what Astoria will see here as we move through the season.Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons: Abxbay, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Cold weather on the wayWe have an unusual spring snow storm on the way in the Cascades starting today, and colder than usual weather for the coast too. We'll talk about how conditions up north allowed this cold air to flow down to us, and create winter like conditions in the middle of April.

The shipyard at Swan IslandSo many times over the years I have said on this show that a ship is headed for "the shipyard at Swan Island."Today we'll take a closer look at that facility, who owns it, and why it has, for many years, been a great place to take a ship that is in need of repairs and maintenance.

First cruise ship for the Astoria seasonToday the Nieuw Amsterdam, a 1000-foot long cruise ship arriving from San Diego, is the first blue water cruise ship to call on Astoria in 2026. She'll head for British Columbia when she leaves here. Today we'll talk about Astoria's cruise ship visitors and why they tend to arrive in spring and fall. We'll also take a quick look at other ships arriving this season and when they'll be here.Nieuw Amsterdam Photo Credit: Jonathan Palombo, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 

Of ebb tides and west windsToday we'll talk about a common occurrence on the river that can affect sea state and make it more turbulent to be out there in a smaller vessel:  a west wind and an ebb tide.Understanding how to predict such conditions and plan for them is part of being a knowledgeable and safe mariner on the mighty Columbia River.

What does it mean to decommission a ship?Today we'll talk about the fate of decommissioned ships. We have one on the river now, the USNS Watkins, which arrived yesterday headed to Vancouver. She'll be decommissioned, or taken out of service, in July. We'll talk about what's next for her.

USNS Watkins, a Military Sealift Command ship, enters the river MondayNote: I'm publishing this podcast a day early because this ship will be arriving in the river around 8:30am Monday, and that's before the show airs on KMUN. This ship is a US Military Sealift Command ship, designed to be a vehicle carrier, a type of ship referred to a as RO/RO - Roll on, Roll off. She can carry tanks and trucks for the military and also containers and other cargo. We'll talk about where she's headed on the river and what the options are for ships arriving here. Not all are here to handle cargo, even though most of them can.

Mariners keep working even in bad weatherYesterday we had some squalls blow through our area, bringing with them heavy rain, wind and fog. While we on land were turning our wipers on high or clutching our coats a little tighter, or just staying in, mariners were working as usual - just another day at the "office."

Who's on the river today, a bit about arriving weather, and scrap metal on the Columbia and where it goesToday we'll look at a variety of things: weather, ship traffic and cargo - specifically scrap metal which travels by ship and barge on the river.

Where exactly is the Columbia River Bar?Most locals, if asked this question, could tell you that the Columbia River Bar is where the river meets the ocean. But if you look into the particulars, where the bar is exactly depends on who's describing it. The Columbia bar is unique among river bars. So among maritime professionals the exact parameters can vary. We'll talk about it today.

What does it mean when the weather is "blowing a gale"? A look at the Beaufort Wind ScaleToday in honor of our marine weather forecast, which suggests strongly that we could have gale force winds on the way, let's take another look at one of my favorites: the Beaufort Wind Scale.

Marine weather forecasts, explained (a little)I got a listener question about marine weather forecasts and why they specify the number of miles offshore the forecast covers. We'll talk about that today.

History and Hops - a Ship Report talk in Seaside on ThursdayTomorrow I'll be giving a talk at the Seaside Brewing Co. at 851 Broadway in Seaside at 6 pm. I'll be talking about a 10-day Pacific Northwest voyage at sea that I took in 2010 on a gypsum carrier sailing out of Rainier on the Columbia, up to Puget Sound and south to San Francisco. It was a pretty lifechanging event. I hope you can join me there.

As the days grow longer - a look at the equinox and what it meansLast Friday was the spring equinox, and it's evident that days are indeed getting longer. Today we'll take a look at how that all works and why the days get longer now and shorter later in the year. And when is the equinox anyway? Turns out it can change from year to year.

"Don't Let the Cat Out of the Bag" - a nautical talk about maritime lore and superstitionToday's show is all about an upcoming talk at Astoria's Columbia River Maritime Museum, featuring career mariner Jason "Boats" Linnett. He'll be giving a talk at the museum on Friday, March 27th at 5:30 pm. The Museum is on Marine Drive on the waterfront at 17th Street.Today we'll talk with Julia Triezenberg, who handles adult education for the museum, and lecturer Jason "Boats" Linnett, about his maritime career and the topic of maritime expressions and superstitions, which permeate modern language and culture.This podcast is a longer version of the show that aired on KMUN radio this morning. Enjoy learning more about these interesting people and what they do.

The Mercy arrives Thursday morningNote: I’m posting this the night before (Wednesday evening even though it’s Thursday’s podcast), so that early birds can have the info about seeing the Mercy pass by on the river Thursday morning.Well, our much anticipated ship, the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy, will cross the Columbia River Bar into the river early Thursday morning around 6 am, passing Astoria inbound around 7:30 am. She’s headed to the shipyard in Portland for maintenance and repairs.Look for her at upriver locations as she travels. by using marinetraffic or vesselfinder to track her progress.

A look at the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy, arriving in the river Thursday morningA look at the USNS Mercy, the US Navy hospital ship that is arriving on the Columbia early Thursday morning. She's headed for the Swan Island shipyard in Portland for maintenance and repairs.

How ships make their way in the darkToday I'll answer a listener question about why ships seem to have so few lights on, on the exterior of the ship, when they are traveling at night.There are two main reasons: preserving night vision for the crew on the bridge so they can see what's out there, as much as possible, in diminished visibility.Also, ships have designated, legally mandated running lights in a specific configuration that allows other vessels to know what they are looking at when they see it coming.Even with all the modern tech on board (GPS, ECDIS, radar, etc.) these simple, time-tested tools for ship navigation remain vital.

A look at weather and ships, as we shoulder another atmospheric riverA few basics about what happens at sea and on the river when the weather gets problematic for vessels. There can be delays - and when ships finally move again can depend on a complex mix of factors related to weather, sea state and tides.

How do ships choose what speed to travel in the river?This may seem like an obvious question (they slow down), but the answer is actually quite complex. Today we'll talk about ship speed in enclosed environments, about things like current and tides, and about some more obscure aspects of the physics of water that heavily affect ships in rivers.

Cold front could bring low land snow, galesWe're looking at an unusual cold weather event through today, with cold air coming down from Alaska. That could bring inland snow, and maybe some light snow/flurries to the coast.The marine weather forecast includes the potential for gale force winds.Overall it will be a wet week - a good thing for mitigating drought and fire risk later in the year.

Honoring Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler JaggersIn a tragic follow up to last Thursday's show, we'll talk about the passing of Tyler Jaggers, the US Coast Guard rescue swimmer who was gravely injured in a accident in Late February. The incident happened while Jaggers and his fellow helicopter crew members were attempting to rescue a stroke victim from a bulk carrier that was operating off the coast of Washington state. He passed away late last week.We honor him and all service members of the US Coast Guard, who take serious risks on behalf of the public to do their jobs. 

US Coast Guard rescue swimmer seriously injured in offshore accidentA US Coast Guard rescue swimmer was seriously injured in an accident during the course of a rescue mission last Friday.As of earlier this week, he was on life support in a British Columbia hospital.We'll talk about the important role rescue swimmers and all Coast Guard personnel play in keeping us safe in challenging conditions.

How winds spin in weather systemsI learned something interesting the other day - that winds spin differently in different kinds of weather systems. It has to do with the Coriolis Effect and air pressure. An interesting look at "how things work" in weather.

A look at what makes an outbound ship seem differentToday we'll look at the ship schedule and talk about why outbound ships can look so different you might think it's another kind of vessel altogether. Also, a look at tides and the moon - and a lunar eclipse.

Why you should never go between a tug and a barge at seaToday we'll do a quick debrief on this past weekend's 29th annual Fisher Poets Gathering, and then we`ll address an important maritime issue that can be a matter of life or death: why you should never get between a tug and its tow at sea, or on the river.

A look at life in the US Coast GuardToday we'll hear more from my interview with Len Tumbarello, who is currently the executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots.Earlier in his life, he spent 28 years in the US Coast Guard, a career he really loved. Today we'll talk about what a career in the Coast Guard can be like.

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots - Part 3Today we hear Part 3 of my interview with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots. We're talking about pilot risk, which comes in many forms. Pilots are a lot like first responders, in that they have to be ready for the unexpected at all times and be ready to respond in a timely and effective manner, sometimes at great risk to themselves. It’s a job that only a small number of people in the world ever qualify for, and are hired to do.

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots - Part 2Today we continue listening to excerpts from an interview I did recently with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots, the public body that oversees operations for the Columbia River Bar and River Pilot organizations, as well as maritime pilots in Coos Bar and Newport.

Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots, Part 1I'll be away this week for a little time off, and I'll be featuring excerpts this week on the show from a recent interview I did with Len Tumbarello, executive director of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots.We'll be taking a look at this vital organization and talking about a subset of the maritime industry that passes by our doors daily here on the Columbia River, but which most of us know little about - the specialized profession of being a maritime pilot, and how that profession is regulated by the state, for safety and commerce.

Snow in the forecast again through Thursday morningWe'll see what transpires... the forecast calls for snow above 500 feet. For coastal snow lovers, maybe some pretty flurries. Inland, expect some driving challenges in the morning.

A look at the forecast: more snow?Well, we had a tiny "snowpocalypse" in Astoria Monday and Tuesday - and by that I mean short periods of intense snow that were really cool and pretty (for those of us who love snow) but disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived.Will there be more? We'll take a look at the forecast for the rest of the week.And some ships...

A bit of snow is possible...We're looking at the possibility of some snow between the coast and Portland later this week. Keep your eyes peeled and watch forecasts.And if you're razor clamming on the beach, bundle up and watch for sneaker waves.

The bulbous bow: an odd-looking, but very efficient, ship design featureThere's a unusual-looking ship design feature that's on pretty much all the ships that arrive here on the Columbia. When a ship is loaded, it's out of sight below the waterline, but on ships that are waiting for cargo, like in anchorages, you can sometimes see it.It's called the bulbous bow. It looks like a round or cylindrical protuberance sticking out in front of the ship at the front, below the waterline. Strange looking, yes, but it actually reduces drag, and improves ship efficiency and speed.

Gulls and updrafts: why these birds seem to love the Megler BridgeToday we'll talk a little about the movement of air, birds, and why the Astoria Megler Bridge is a great place to watch certain kinds of birds fairly close up, as they soar near the roadway. And why, according to birders, you really shouldn't refer to a gull as a "seagull."