The Ship Report

Today's maritime term: lightering

Today we'll take another look at a specialized maritime term, one that may seem odd to folks not involved in the maritime industry.

This word, llightering, has to do with the process of moving cargo, and sometimes fuel, usually from a larger vessel to a smaller one, for the purposes of making the other vessel lighter, and more able to maneuver, especially when it comes to water depth at the dock.

The origin and meaning of a common maritime industry term: bunkering

Folks familiar with the maritime industry use this word a lot: "bunker" or "bunkering" or even "bunkers."

It's not a word whose meaning you can easily figure out just by hearing it, but it refers to the fuel ships use and the process of filling up a ship's tanks so she has fuel to travel at sea.

Today we'll talk about bunker and bunkering, and exactly what those terms mean. And how this important maritime function came to be named in such an apparently nonintuitive way.

Cruise ships on the Columbia, and why we don't see blue water cruises all summer

A look at today's ship schedule, and a look at our cruise ship complement for the season, and why we don't see blue water cruise ships here all summer long.

Beautiful weather is here, and with it cold water dangers

Every spring, we have these wonderful days (like today into the weekend) where the weather just blossoms into full summer mode - and we are understandably giddy with joy.

However, while you're out there enjoying the beach and the riverside (as well you should!), keep in mind that winter conditions still exist when it comes to water and water dangers - it's still dangerously cold in both our rivers and the ocean.

So even though the air is intoxicatingly warm, we're still in the Pacfic Northwest. And that means cold water, strong tidal currents, and rip currents in the ocean, year round.

Nightime running lights on ships

Today, a look back in the Ship Report archives at an interview I did in the early 2000s, with a local maritime professional: Captain Robert Johnson, a now retired Columbia River Bar Pilot who was at the time working in the field in the waters off  Astoria, Warrenton and Hammond. In this insider's look at ship running lights, he'll tell us what we are likely to see in a ship passing by at night.

Lights on ships are designed with great purpose: they are meant to allow other vessels to see a ship at night and determine how it is traveling, to avoid collision. Lights also illuminate working areas of the ship were crew and pilots need to be.

A look at who's on the river today

Today, a look at who's traveling on the river today, and a bit about cargo, ballast water, and land transportation for cargo after it gets to port.

How does the "gas pedal" work on a ship?

Today, the answer to an interesting listener question about how the bridge communicates propulsion decisons to the engine room. In a car, we'd call this the "gas pedal," but it works differently on ships.

The Seafarers Happiness Index shows improved morale in 2024

Crews are feeling happier on board ship these days. We'll take a look at the factors that keep sailors happy when they're away from home for months.

All female sailboat crew makes history winning round the world race

The crew of the yacht Maiden, all women, made racing history last month when they won the Ocean Globe Race, becoming the only all-female crew to ever win a round the world race.

The nautical and historical origins of May Day

Today is May Day, the first day of the month of May. We'll talk about the day's historical origins as a celebration. Then we'll delve into its contemporary nautical meaning. The expression "mayday" has saved lives for over a century, when uttered over VHF radio as a distress signal to the Coast Guard.

Transcript of this show available here: http://shipreport.nfshost.com/audio/Transcript050124.pdf