The Ship Report, Thursday, July 2, 2026

This 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 here in Astoria. She sailed around the world as the master of big ships. And from her admission into the Maine Maritime Academy in the 1970s to her hiring as a bar pilot, her life as been filled with instances where she has been the first woman to do many of the jobs s he has held in the maritime industry. She's also a heckuva nice person, a good friend and an incredible mariner. Happy Birthday, Deb!