The Ship Report

Tragedy on the Columbia River Bar

This weekend, a recreational boat overturned on the Columbia River Bar. Out of the five people on board, two were rescued safely, one died, and two remained missing when the Coast Guard called off their search Saturday night. Today we'll talk a bit about why the bar has been historically, and remains, one of the most dangerous river entrances in the world.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript071524.pdf

National Data Buoy Center: a rewarding agency to work for

Today we conclude this week's interview with Craig Kohler, operations branch chieg for the National Data Buoy Center. We've learned a lot about this agency and its network of high tech data buoys in US and international waters. Today, Kohler talks about how rewarding it is to work for an agency that does valuable scientific work at low cost, and provides vital information to scientists and to the public.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript071224.pdf

National Data Buoy Center: how buoys stand up to brutal ocean weather

Today we'll hear more from my interview with Craig Kohler; he's an official with the National Data Buoy Center. We've been talking this week about the network of data-gathering buoys in US waters and around the world. Today we talk about how this data helps scientsits, and also how these hardy buoys stand up to the punishing conditions at sea where they are stationed.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/.pdf

National Data Buoy Center tsunami warning buoys

We continue this week's interview with Craig Kohler from the National Data Buoy Center, a US agency under NOAA and the National Weather Service that operates a network of data buoys in US coastal waters and around the world.

Today we'll talk about the NDBC tsunami buoys that are strategically placed in the ocean to warn officials when a tsunami wave is occurring.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript071024.pdf

National Data Buoy Center - an important local buoy gets repaired and put back in service

Today we'll talk about our local National Data Buoy Center buoy, 46029, which was returned to service in June, 20 miles off the mouth of the Columbia River in the Pacific.

This important data buoy had been out of service since last fall. Today we'll talk with NDBC adminstrator Craig Kohler about the buoy's journey back to being in working order, transmitting data to waiting satellites - all about sea state, weather and other info. Important info for mariners.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript070924.pdf

National Data Buoy Center - valuable local resource and worldwide agency

Today we'll begin hearing excerpts from my interview with Craig Kohler, operations branch chief for the National Data Buoy Center. NDBC maintains a network of buoys in US coastal waters and in other places in the world, that transmit weather and climate data to satelites. We have NDBC buoys in our coastal waters including one right off the Columbia River Bar in the ocean called 46029. 

This week we'll talk about that buoy system and why it is so valuable to mariners and scientists.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript070824.pdf

A look at ship traffic, and - hot weather is about to arrive

Today we'll take a look at ship traffic on the river, and at the predictions for our upcoming holiday weekend heat wave.

I'll be taking the long holiday weekend to regroup a little from the exhausing but wonderful process of finally launching my boat (see yeastserday's podcast.) So after today, I'll see you all again Monday on the Ship Report.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript070324.pdf

Passage, afloat again at last

Many of you have asked me about my boat, Passage, a long term restoration project I started 16 years ago with my dad. Friday she was launched and is doing fine. Here's a bit of her (and my) story.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript070224.pdf

A look at one of Astoria's old hometown ships: where is the USCGC Alert now?

Earlier this year, the USCGC Alert, a Coast Guard ship that had been in Astoria for decades, was reassigned and replaced by a brand new cutter, the USCGC David Duren, which is now in Astoria.

Today we take a look at where the Alert is now... she's got a new home on the East Coast (a region she was first assigned to over 50 years ago as a new ship), working as an active duty cutter in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Show transcript here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript070124.pdf

Rogue Waves

Today, a look back in the Ship Report srchives at an interview about rogue waves with Capt. Deborah Dempsey and Terry Wilson - both dear friends of mine. This interview is especially poignant, since Terry is no longer with us. Today we'll learn about rogue waves from two mariners who have each experienced them at sea.

Show transcript: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/SRTranscript062824.pdf