The Ship Report

The bulbous bow: an odd-looking, but very efficient, ship design featureThere's a unusual-looking ship design feature that's on pretty much all the ships that arrive here on the Columbia. When a ship ...

12 Helmi 9min

Gulls and updrafts: why these birds seem to love the Megler BridgeToday we'll talk a little about the movement of air, birds, and why the Astoria Megler Bridge is a great place to watch certain kinds ...

11 Helmi 8min

Sneaker wave risk this week reminds us of cold water hazards at the beachWe'll have a sneaker wave beach hazard statement in effect later this week for our region, and it's a good opportunity to remin...

10 Helmi 8min

The plumb bow: an interesting design feature on newer shipsToday we'll talk about a familiar sight these days on the waterfront: a ship with a plumb or straight up and down bow. There are reasons for ...

9 Helmi 9min

The HOS Black Watch: high tech offshore supply vessel on the river todayToday we have an vessel on the river, one of a type that we don't see very often. She's the HOS Black Watch, one of a kind of ve...

5 Helmi 8min

Seafarer survey shows many sailors find life at sea stressfulA new study published in 2025 by World Maritime University, says "persistently long working hours, limited opportunities for rest and shore...

4 Helmi 8min

A long workday on the river heading to PortlandWhile we see ships pass by Astoria and other areas on the river, that's only a fraction of their workday when they cross the Columbia Rive Bar. A transit...

3 Helmi 8min

How ships fit into the global supply chain, and a look at who's on the river todayWe see ships coming and going every day, and while they are interesting to look at, they also represent an important p...

3 Helmi 9min