The Ship Report

Interesting goings-on in the Astoria Anchorage show experts handling ship issues

This weekend a ship experienced some engine issues heading downriver. Observant folks near the Astoria Anchorage noticed some unusual activity - the actions of marine pilots and a tugboat crew at work keeping the ship safe until it could fix its problems and head out to sea, which it eventually did.

The autumnal equinox, and a look at fall near the Arctic Circle

Today, a bit about the autumnal equinox, which happened yesterday in the Northern Hemisphere.

And if you're feeling sad about the shorter days, consider the people of Barrow, Alaska (now called Utquiagvik), who endure 67 days of complete darkness between mid-November and late January.

The USNS Henry J Kaiser heads downriver

Posting this podcast the night before so folks can see her heading downriver Friday morning from Vancouver.

Ship hull colors and why they look that way

White caps and white horses

Today we'll talk about a specific sea state that you might see often off the downtown Astoria waterfront this time of year, and that's: white caps. Also called "white horses" in the UK.

They're the result of a specific set of circumstances involving wind and tide, and they signal choppy conditions that mariners need to know about.

Anchor buoys, and why (and how) ships use them

Names, countries and other words painted on ships - and what they mean

Ship speed: some factors that determine how fast ships go

The Sand Plan: guidelines that address a fact of life on the Columbia, and that's dredging

Each year, the US Army Corps of Engineers dredges tons and tons (and tons) of sand out of the river to keep the ship channel open and navigable. We all rely on it to receive the goods we need to live our lives. It's also a huge economic driver for the region.

But the dilemma remains: where to put all that sand? The agency, along with river ports, has drafted a docuoment called the Sand Plan, which will spell out where dredge spoils will go for the next 20 years.

The public comment period is open now through early October. Regonal meetings and a virtual meeting are happening starting next week. Make your voice heard. Dredging can affect ecosystems, fish spawning grounds, and even enhance riparian conditions if properly handled.

Get involved in an important process - creating a plan that attempts to balance the needs of all stakeholders in the river, including those (like wild creatures) who cannot speak for themselves.

See a copy of the draft plan here: Draft DMMP-EIS on the USACE Digital Library

Email comments here: [email protected] (Please add “Draft DMMP-EIS” in the subject line of your email.)

In-person meetings:
September 16 • 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cowlitz County Event Center
1900 7th Avenue, Longview, Wash.

September 17 • 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Norse Hall
444 WA-409 Cathlamet, Wash.

September 18 • 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
St. John’s Community Center
8427 N Central Street, Portland, Ore.

September 20 • 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Astoria Senior Center
1111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Ore.

USACE and the sponsor ports will host a virtual meeting:
September 24 • 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Meeting login information will be posted on this webpage: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannelmaintenance/

Boatlift: Recalling the maritime evacuation during 9/11 in Manhattan, which showed us the best we can be

Today, on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on NYC and Washington, DC, we remember "Operation Boatlift": a stunning display of people helping people - as hundreds of private boat owners joined the US Coast Guard to evacuate stranded victims from Manhattan Island after the World Trade Center collapsed.

It's an unforgettable look at humans being the best we can be.

Transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript091124.pdf