Who's on the river today?

After a bout of dangerously cold weather, it’s nice to see ships moving again on the river. We’ll take a look at who’s on the river today, and what they’re carrying to and from ports.

A look at how and why ships appear on the daily schedule

A listener wrote in asking to better understand what he was seeing on the ship schedule, and how and why ships appear, and don't appear, on the list from day to day.

Microclimates

In this latest round of freezing weather, it seemed like different places, often close together, had really different weather and conditions. Part of the reason could be microclimates, where different areas experience the same weather system differently.

Listener question about a boat in the Astoria Anchorage

A listener wrote in to ask about a small boat they saw approaching a ship in the anchorage.

Today we'll talk about launch services and the valuable work they perform that is an integral part of the maritime chain of commerce.

Winter at Sea

While land dwellers here on the coast were dealing with iced over roads and unusually brutal cold, mariners at sea offshore were handling their own kind of maritime hardship.

Who's traveling on the river today?

Today, a look at who's coming and going on the river...we'll look at the ship schedule, discuss cargoes and talk about what ships have the fastest turnaround time in port.

Certain types of ships spend days in port handling cargo, while others come and go sometimes in less than 24 hours.

That's a tough go for tired mariners handling winter weather at sea.

Light

A quick recap of our crazy weather and some ship traffic, then a look at light: our annual returning daylight, and how it will all add up to long summer days in a few short months.

Difficult sea conditions continue, with King Tides in the mix to increase hazards

Today we have a high surf warning, and tomorrow another round of King Tides hits the coast. Expect dangerous high surf and and unpredictable hazardous conditions on beaches.

A good day to weather watch from a high up viewpoint rather than on the beach. We'll talk about what's happening and what to expect over the next few days.

Heavy Weather affects PNW Mariners and Beachgoers This Week

Today, a look at this week's heavy weather, and the myriad hazards we'll see on beaches and area waterways.

It's a good week to stay away from beaches, and go to high-up headlands to storm watch. But be advised, winds will be gusting to 70 mph.

Big seas close to 30 feet will affect ship traffic, and make sea conditions hazardous for all vessels.

King Tides 2024

We have another round of King Tides happening this week, Thursday through Saturday.

We'll talk a bit today about tides and how they're calibrated.

And how you can participate in what's called the King Tide Project in Oregon or Washington.