The Ship Report

Sneaker wave risk this week reminds us of cold water hazards at the beach

We'll have a sneaker wave beach hazard statement in effect later this week for our region, and it's a good opportunity to remind folks that sneaker wave risk is real, and potentially deadly.

Even more so when the ocean water is so cold, as it is right now.

The plumb bow: an interesting design feature on newer ships

Today we'll talk about a familiar sight these days on the waterfront: a ship with a plumb or straight up and down bow. There are reasons for this design feature, and we'll talk about some of them.

The HOS Black Watch: high tech offshore supply vessel on the river today

Today we have an vessel on the river, one of a type that we don't see very often. She's the HOS Black Watch, one of a kind of vessel that's used in special projects worldwide.

It's called an Offshore Supply Vessel - a jack of all trades craft that can assist with tricky offshore projects assisting oil rigs and other vessels with things they can't do alone.

This compact ship has all the high tech bells and whistles, and a crew of experts on board.

Seafarer survey shows many sailors find life at sea stressful

A new study published in 2025 by World Maritime University, says "persistently long working hours, limited opportunities for rest and shore leave, and high levels of work-related stress" among sailors is a matter of serious concern in the maritime industry. The survey included about 4500 respondents across 99 countries, including the US. 

A long workday on the river heading to Portland

While we see ships pass by Astoria and other areas on the river, that's only a fraction of their workday when they cross the Columbia Rive Bar. A transit can take and entire standard workday - 8 hours - a long trip for crews who have already spend several weeks at sea to get here.

How ships fit into the global supply chain, and a look at who's on the river today

We see ships coming and going every day, and while they are interesting to look at, they also represent an important part of the wider web of global trade, and are responsible for bring us goods we use in our every day lives. So, ships are truly meaningful to you and me, whether we realize it or not.

Rising sea heights could affect ship traffic on Thursday

With rain, gales and elevated sea heights in the forecast, it's another interesting opportunity to talk about weather and how it affects ships crossing between the vast ocean and the turbulent river.

Big ship schedule today - let's talk about it!

We have a sizeable ship schedule today and some interesting vessels arriving from far flung places.

Anchorage goings on

With so much photography happening of our local ships here in Astoria, people are noticing marine traffic more than ever before.

It's a good time to take another look at "what's going on in the anchorage." As it turns out, a lot is happening out there, all of it fascinating.

Who's on the river today?

A look at today's ship schedule, highlighting some particularly interesting ships on the river today. And, a look at our marine weather.