Staying safe on a boat means: prepare before you go Nothing 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 river A 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 traffic Today 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 past Today 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 Program To 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 in...
A look at a career in the Coast Guard Today 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 3 Today 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 2 Today 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 Program This 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 Langewiesche Today 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 cargo We'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 Eagle Monday 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 Astoria Friday 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 pm Saturday Tours: 10 am to 7pm Sunday Tours: 10 am to 7 pm. Monday: the Eagle heads out to sea (Departure Time TBA)...
Eagle recap for Friday tours Today 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...
Updated tour times for the Eagle in Astoria, and a listener question about the ship Here 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 Tours Friday, June 13 Arrive at Port ofAstoria Pier 1 around 12:30 pm Open for tours: 3:30- 7:00 pm Saturday, June 14 Open for tours:...
Good news: Real ID not required for Eagle tours in Astoria The 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...
What's next with the Rose Festival Fleet, and a bit more about that car ship fire off Alaska The 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 EVs There’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 update Today 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 upriver Tuesday 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 week This 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 ~3:30pm USS Jack H Lucas...
A US Navy ship arrives for tours in Astoria, the Rose Festival Fleet, and dredge season on the river An 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...
Maritime scholarship for students opens doors to education Today 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 tal...
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 today Today 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 wrong In 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 2025 On 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.
