The Ship Report

The Ship Report, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

We're having our first fall storm of the season today, and that brings the potential for interruptions to ship traffic as sea heights increase. Even if that's not what happens today, most assuredly sometime soon it will.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, September 1, 2026

It's September 1st, and that means the end of meteorological summer and the beginning of meteorological fall. A slightly different designation than standard fall later in the month, it's used by weather scientists to keep track of weather patterns. And right on time, our weather is obliging with wind and rain, and cooling temperatures.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 31, 2026

Another kind of ship we see fairly often here on the river is the research vessel. It's cargo is live people: scientists whose mission is the study the oceanographic environment. As it turns out, the Columbia River is an ideal option for ships who are in our region of the Pacific and need to make landfall for various routine reasons.

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 27, 2026

We'll talk about a recent blog post from UW meteorologist Cliff Mass, talking about the cooling trend we are entering in our weather, as fall makes its presence known. It will be cool on the coast and cooler inland.

The Ship Report, Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Today we'll hear the second of a two-part interview on ship lights from the Ship Report archives, from an interview I did years ago with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson.

Light colors and placement are not random, and their patterns hold great meaning for other vessels that may see them at night.

Today we'll also learn about the vital role lights play when a helicopter is at sea at night, dropping off or picking up a pilot in the dark.

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Today we'll hear the first of a two-part interview on ship lights from the Ship Report archives, from an interview I did years ago with Columbia River Bar Pilot Captain Robert Johnson.

Light colors and placement are not random, and their patterns hold great meaning for other vessels that may see them at night.

There are running lights, which give other vessels important information about a vessel's location and heading, and work lights, which allow crews to work safely at night on deck and allow the ship to be clearly seen at anchor.

The Ship Report, Monday, August 24, 2026

Today we'll talk about an important term in marine weather: the concept of "significant wave height." Understanding the meaning of this term can give you a more realistic expectation of what the weather may be like at sea when you go out in a vessel.

The Ship Report, Thursday, August 20, 2026

Today we'll talk about the approach of autumn, shorter days and the different kinds of twilight we experience as the sun rises and sets.

The Ship Report: Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Today we'll take a look at the Crystal Symphony, a luxury cruise ship that will be in Astoria on Wednesday. She's just begun a 39 day cruise that started earlier this week in Vancouver, BC, that will take her down the West Coast, to Mexico, through the Panama Canal, visiting various locations in South America and the Caribbean, and eventually to New York City.

Image: the Crystal Symphony in Alaska waters. Photo credit: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Ship Report, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Today, a look at who's coming and going on the river, and since we frequently see ships arriving from Vancouver. BC, going to Vancouver, WA, I thought it would be fun to talk about how these namesake cities got their names.

Plus, in our weather, "Fogust" returns with foggy conditions, especially on the river.