USNS Washington Chambers enters the river today

An unusual vessel arrives in the river today: The USNS Washington Chambers. She's a cargo ship that is a member of the Navy's Military Sealift Command fleet, and she's headed for the shipyard at Swan Island. She's been involved in some unique military exercises at sea recently - we'll talk about that too.

And a correction to Tuesday's podcast about the disabled ship that was towed to Rainier after losing power downriver from the Astoria Megler Bridge: that incident happened on Christmas Eve, and the ship was towed upriver on Christmas Day. Apologies for the error; I've corrected the podcast.

Something to cheer about in the depths of winter: the days are getting longer

Today we'll talk about a happy fact: the days are getting longer! Since we passed the winter solstice in December, we've been adding a little daylight daily in small increments. Soon it will add up to wonderfully longer days, and eventually summer once again.

Interesting backstory on a complex Christmas ship incident shows mariner expertise

On Christmas Eve, some lower Columbia land dwellers saw a ship and two tugs slowly making its way upriver to Rainier, where it remains anchored. The ship experienced engine failure on its way downriver, and had to turn around and retrace its path.

The complex backstory around this incident, which might have seemed to a bystander like a relatively simple maneuver, shows the incredible expertise at play in our local maritime industry, which saw numerous professionals working during the Christmas holiday, meeting difficult challenges.

A look at today's ship schedule: who's on the river?

We've got a calm weather outlook for the week, and ships coming and going.

We'll see who's here and where they're from, and what kinds of cargoes they're handling.

New Year's Eve on the Astoria Waterfront 2024

It's that time of year again, when Astoria is usually quite fortunate to hear ship horns on the waterfront at midnight. It's different every year, depending on who's in the anchorage and who chooses to participate.

Thanks to the kind ship captains who agreed to sound their horns for us this year. Enjoy these sounds of the New Year's night and our town, ringing in the new.

Happy New Year!

Dungeness Crabbing - Part 4

More about our local Dungeness crab fishery and what it takes to do this demanding profession.

Dungeness crabbing - Part 3

We continue our look at the local Dungeness crab fishery.

Dungeness crab fishing - Part 2

Today we continue our look at the local Dungeness crab fishery, from a 2016 interview I did with fishermen John Corbin and Scott McMullen.

Something special for Christmas Eve: A Coastal Christmas

My annual Christmas Eve reading of A Coastal Christmas: a retelling of the story of The Night before Christmas, in which PNW fishermen and the US Coast Guard rescue Santa and save Christmas for everyone.

A look at the Dungeness crab industry

This week and next I'll be taking some time off for the holidays. While I'm away I'll be sharing excerpts from an interview I did in 2016 with local fishermen John Corbin and Scott McMullen, all about the local Dungeness Crab fishing industry. At the time, Corbin was chair of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, and McMullen is chair of the Oregon Fishermen's Cable Committee. Today we'll hear Part 1 of that interview.