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.

Dramatic rescue on the Columbia highlights dangers

As we face sneaker wave warnings yet again on local ocean beaches this weekend, a reminder that the risks in this dynamic area in which we live are not confined just to the ocean.

Today, a story about the heroic crew of the US Army Corps of Engineers dredge Yaquina, who earlier this year rescued a woman who had fallen into the Columbia River. They were guardian angels that day: without their quick action and situational awareness, the victim likely would not be alive today.

A reminder to keep your wits about you, especially when you're in one of those dramatic areas here - those unpredictable places where the water meets the land.

Here's a link to the complete ACE story: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/3619505/man-overboard-dredge-vessel-crew-saves-woman-swept-away-by-columbia-river/

Today on the Columbia River we'll see the cable ship Dependable heading out to sea from the shipyard in Portland.

She's one a special type of ship that installs, repairs and maintains fiber-optic cable on the ocean floor. Recently she's taken on a new specialized mission for the US military.

We'll talk about the Dependable and ships like her, which play important roles in our lives, even though we rarely see them.

New Year's Eve Ship Horns in Astoria

The Ship Report is back today after a holiday vacation. It was wonderful. Happy New Year!

On this first show of the new year, it's customary that I play my recording of the New Year's Eve ship horns on Astoria's waterfront. We'll also talk a bit about marine weather, our inbound and outbound ships, and a little about the history of this annual Astoria New Year's happening.

Ship horns on New Year's Eve here is a special tradition, one that varies from year to year depending on the ships that happen to be visiting our city. What happens is the bar pilots ask any ships that are anchored in the river off Astoria at midnight on New Year's Eve, to please sound their horns at the stroke of midnight. (Technically the "horns" are referred to as ship's whistles, but they sound much more like horns.)

These moody, ethereal sounds are a bit of Astoria magic, echoing through the night air. Enjoy.

More from Fisher Poet and author Tele Aadsen

Today the final segment in our archive interview with Fisher Poet and author Tele Aadsen. Her book, "What Water Holds,"  was published this year. We talked earlier this year for the Ship Report.