shipping Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Reducing collisions between ships and whales? There’s apps for that, but they need work

By Tom Banse November 8, 2022

A way to prevent large ships from striking and killing whales is to transmit alerts to the officers at the helm when whales are nearby.

Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often in the Pacific Northwest that ships collide with whales. But when it does, it's upsetting, tragic and the whale probably dies. Three separate teams have developed smartphone-based systems that can alert commercial mariners to watch out, slow down or change course when whales have been sighted nearby. A recent ride-along on a big Read More

Ocean Shipping Reform Act Will Fund Investigations Of Unfair Shipping Costs, Says Cantwell

By Lauren Paterson June 21, 2022

A bright red cargo ship with teal green containers makes its way across the blue ocean to the port of Seattle.

A cargo ship arrives at the port of Seattle. Food meant for export has been left at Northwest ports, says Senator Cantwell. (AP Photo) Listen New federal funding from a […]Read More

Past As Prologue: The Non-Coastal Inland Northwest’s Big Ties To The Ocean Shipping Industry

By NWPB News May 28, 2021

In this Past as Prologue essay, WSU Professor Karen Phoenix explains the history of the shipping container and its Spokane ties. Read More

Here’s How A Long Shutdown Of The Suez Canal Might Roil The Global Economy

By NPR News March 26, 2021

High-resolution satellite imagery shows the Suez Canal and the container ship Ever Given that remains stuck north of the city of Suez, Egypt. CREDIT: ScapeWare3d/DigitalGlobe/Getty Images

Now, with the ship lodged sideways in the canal, closing off the main oceangoing highway between Europe and Asia, much of that cargo is sitting idle. It's either waiting to transit the canal or stuck in port while owners and shippers decide what to do.Read More

I Said Hay, What’s Going On? Supply Chain Breakdown Hurting Big Northwest Ag Exports

By Anna King May 2, 2020

File photo. Central Washington is a hay growing and exporting powerhouse. But supply chain disruptions have caused slowdowns at West Coast and East Coast ports.

An unprecedented number of ships have canceled their calls to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. So far this year, there have been 32 canceled international sailings since January 1. That has created the shortage of shipping containers at those Northwest ports.Read More