The Ship Report

Archive week on the Ship Report

Part 2 of this week's interview with a USCG rescue swimmer.

Archive week on the Ship Report: Interview with a rescue swimmer, Part 1

This week I'm taking a little time off, and am sharing one of my favorite interviews: one I did in the early 2000s with a USCG rescue swimmer, an incredibly dangerous and demanding profession. These intrepid folks risk their lives on a regular basis to keep us safe.

Each day this week we'll hear another part of this interesting interview, which took place at the USCG Group/Air Station Astoria, located at the Astoria Warrenton Airport. Enjoy, and I'll see you next week.

The Fisher Poets Gathering: remembering those now gone

Today, to celebrate the opening of the annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, we honor Fisher Poets who are no longer with us.

We'll hear a song from Fisher Poet great Jon Campbell, who passed a few years ago. Jon was a prolific and creative songwriter and performer who hailed from Rhode Island, and his performances were unforgettable.

You can hear more of the works of Jon Campbell and other, living, Fisher Poets, at this weekend's Annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon. Performances are are happening Friday through Sunday morning.  For more info, see fisherpoets.org.

If you can't attend, KMUN radio in Astoria will livestream the Gathering from 6-10 pm Friday and Saturday from the Liberty Theater in Astoria. You can tune into KMUN locally at 91.9 fm, or livestream it at kmun.org, or download the KMUN app. I'll be your host both nights.

For a live videostream of FPG performances at the Liberty on Friday and Saturday nights, check out the FisherPoetry Archive Project's live videostream, courtesy of FPAP founder Brad Wartman. You'll find that on the FisherPoetry Archive YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefisherpoetryarchive

Fisher Poets Gathering Spotlight: Tele Aadsen

As this weekend's annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, approaches, we'll take a look today at a PNW author who's been a regular at the event for years: Tele Aadsen.

Tele published her first book in 2023, called "What Water Holds," and today we'll hear a reading from it.

Plus, how you can get more info about the Gathering, and how to listen live if you can't be there.

The Gathering begins Friday, with events on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Annual Columbia River dam and lock maintenance begins in March

The Columbia River has dams and locks inland from Vancouver, and billions in commerce pass though those locks each year by tug and barge. After all that wear and tear, the Army Corps of Engineers schedules yearly maintenance periods during which locks are closed and all equipment is inspected, repaired and maintained. It's part of the essential workings of a river system that is a huge economic engine for the region. We're coming up on one of those annual two week periods in March.

The Fisher Poets Gathering approaches

Today we'll talk a little about the annual Fisher Poets Gethering happening this coming weekend in Astoria. And a look at today's ship traffic.

A look at the people in port who make ship transits and port stays happen

We've been talking this week on the show about People on the ships we see. So far we've talked about the people on board. Today we'll talk about an important additional piece of things: the portside army of professionals who make it possible for ships to arrive, handle cargo, and depart - in as smooth and efficient a manner as possible.

Food: an essential ingredient to a happy life on board ship

Today, continuing this week's theme of People on board ship, we'll talk about food. Fresh, well-prepared meals are essential to crew morale. Without a good meal after a hard work shift, sailors can get pretty discouraged as they labor for months without much time off. So wise captains make sure food on board is good and plentiful.

Life at Sea

his week's theme on the Ship Report is People: the people on the ships we see passing by each day. Today we'll talk about what it's like at sea on board a cargo ship - what people do when they are at work and when they are off work, and what the rhythm of life is like on board.

The Engineering Department: a vital, often unseen workforce on any ship

A critical and ofen unseen workforce on any ship is its below decks engineering department. These hardworking, highly skilled folks keep all the essential systems running on board the ship, ensuring that the captain and the rest of the deck department folks can handle the job of getting the vessel from one place to another, and handling its cargo.