Update on the Port of Portland's container service

In a follow up to a story I shared with you earlier this year, here's the latest on the Port of Portland's container service, which faced closure in the face of financial losses. Now it looks like the Port will has a new agreement for operating the container service but still needs funding from the state of Oregon. We should know more  about that funding by summer.

A deep sea rescue by a tanker ship with a specialized cargo: orange juice

A look at who's on the river today, and the need for "rain pants" on the coast

A look at today's ship traffic, and what to expect from the weather.

Might want to get out the raingear later in the week.

A few things: a new ship in town, a tsunami warning (whew!), and Ilwaco's Crabpot Christmas

Today, a medley of things to talk about: a new, locally built military vessel on the Columbia; that scary tsunami warning yesterday and what it reminds us to consider.

And, Ilwaco's Crabpot Christmas Tree lighting is coming around again, happening this Saturday at the Port.

A moment of inattention has big consequences at sea

Today we'll talk about an accident at sea where inattention and fatigue helped create a costly and catastrophic mistake,

We'll talk about the cost of not paying attention on land and sea.

Remembering the Great Coastal Gale of 2007

Seventeen years ago this month, a series of storms later called the "Great Coastal Gale of 2007," hit PNW coastal communities hard, causing serious flooding inland too. Here on the coast, residents were reeling, left without power and cell service for days.

We'll share some recollections today about that storm, and what it showed us about ourselves.

Tragedy in Alaska, as a fishing boat is lost

The Alaska commercial fishing community is grieving today with the loss of the 50-foot fishing boat, the Wind Walker, out of Sitka, which capsized in stormy seas a little after midnight early Monday morning southwest of Juneau.

Despite an extensive search with many Coast Guard and civilian resources, neither the boat nor her crew have not been found.

Incidents like this reverberate through our fishing communities throughout the region, especially as our own local Lower Columbia crabbing fleet prepares to go to sea in the worst weather of the year, as the season opens in the next few weeks.

Send your best to these grieving families, and to all our fishermen... may they have a successful, safe and profitable season. And your sincere gratitude for a good catch.

A look at who's on the river today

An overveiw and a detailed look at ship traffic on the river today.

Holiday weekend weather outlook is one to savor

As we head on into the holiday weekend, the forecast is looking amazingly dry and sunny for the next few days. Savor the moment, as rain will return next week, and our winter weather promises to be on target for a normal weather year: and that means, wind rain and snow. Winter in the Pacific Northwest.

Holidays at sea

On this Thanksgiving Eve, let's take a moment to send our best wishes to all the sailors on board the many ships that ply our waters. They're far from home, missing loved ones, and the holidays make it all the more poignant. We'll talk about holidays on board merchant ships.