The Ship Report: How noticing the natural world around us makes us safer on the river and ocean beach
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 enjoy...
8 Jul 9min
The Ship Report: How ships load and unload cargo
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.
8 Jul 8min
The Ship Report: a close look at the interesting detail in today's ships
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...
6 Jul 9min
The Ship Report: Happy Birthday, Captain Deb Dempsey, master mariner
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 her...
2 Jul 9min
The Ship Report: Answers to listener questions
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...
1 Jul 9min
The Ship Report: The USCGC Healy, a Coast Guard icebreaker, leaves Portland today
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 i...
30 Jun 9min
The Ship Report: The National Weather Service website was down on Sunday
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 av...
29 Jun 9min
The Ship Report: why do most ships use the port anchor in the river off Astoria?
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 c...
25 Jun 9min
