Prime Location
The Port of Woodland is located on the deep draft Columbia River channel at river mile 85. The federally maintained channel is 40 feet deep and 600 feet wide with ocean-going vessels of 300 gross tons or greater traversing its waters daily.
Much of the region’s economy depends upon maritime trade and the Columbia River is the United States’ largest wheat export system. Forty percent of all U.S. wheat exports are shipped via lower Columbia River ports. In addition, ocean going vessels transport an average $14 billion worth of cargo each year.
More than 40,000 local jobs with an average annual wage of $46,000 are dependent on Columbia River maritime commerce and 59,000 more Northwest jobs are influenced by such activity. Approximately $1.8 billion per year in personal income is generated by maritime activity and over $208 million in state and local taxes are generated each year by Columbia River maritime shipping.
River Stage
The NOAA Weather Forecast Office in Portland, Oregon monitors the Columbia River stage and the information may be accessed here.
Depths
The Columbia River shipping channel is maintained at a depth of 40 feet by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Today, newer and larger vessels travelling the shipping channel require greater depth in order to fully load with cargo. In order to accommodate these larger vessels and remain competitive in world trade, Lower Columbia River ports are sponsoring the Columbia River Channel Deepening project, which proposes to deepen the shipping channel to 43 feet.
Pilotage
By federal law, all ships entering the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon must be piloted by a licensed Columbia River Bar Pilot. Bar pilots are responsible for navigating vessels across the seventeen mile stretch of river mouth.
After crossing the mouth, pilotage is transferred to a licensed Columbia River Pilot. River pilots are responsible for navigating vessels to their final destination on the 100-mile shipping channel. River pilots also determine the draft of ships that may safely navigate the river.
Upon arriving at destination, ship assist is provided by Foss Maritime, Shaver Transportation and Tidewater.
