Columbia River Bar Pilots

In this article, Garrison Gove will inform readers about the Columbia River Bar Pilots, the unsung heroes who keep the global economy running.

Columbia River Bar Pilots

By Garrison Gove

The stretch of coastline from Tillamook Bay, Oregon, to Cape Scott, British Columbia, is regarded as one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. Unpredictable weather conditions, shifting sand bars, aggressive tides, and submerged reefs have earned this region the nickname “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” More than 2,000 ships have wrecked in this area. The most hazardous section of this region is the Columbia River Bar, which has claimed 700 lives by itself. Ship captains attempting to cross the bar must contend with a sand bar that extends six miles out to sea, as well as treacherous waves that occur when the river’s discharge combines with the already imposing ocean waves.

An out-bound cargo ship attempts to cross the Columbia River Bar. Photo credit: Northwest Power and Conservation Council

Despite these adversities, crossing the bar is crucial for the global economy. According to the Columbia River Bar Pilots website, an estimated 56 million tons of cargo, worth $23 billion dollars, crosses the bar annually. The port of Portland, Oregon, located about 110 miles upstream, is one of the nation’s largest handlers of wheat and automobiles; other deepwater ports, including Vancouver and Longview, Washington, also contribute significantly to the local economy.

So, how do massive cargo ships navigate this treacherous obstacle? The answer lies in a group of 16 elite and highly scrutinized individuals, the Columbia River Bar Pilots. Founded in 1864, the organization is one of the oldest businesses in the state of Oregon. Its jurisdiction extends from Astoria, Oregon to the open ocean. These individuals board vessels, either by boat or by helicopter, and proceed to navigate them through the crossing. With little exception, all ships attempting to cross the bar are required to take on pilots. According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, potential bar pilots are required to have an unlimited master’s license with at least two years at sea in command of an ocean-going cargo ship.

A bar pilot is lowered onto a cargo vessel by a helicopter. Photo credit: Columbia River Bar Pilots website

The first documented crossing of the Columbia River Bar was by Captain Robert Gray on May 11, 1792. To navigate the bar, Gray sent a smaller boat to scout ahead and identify the deepest water to accommodate his ship. In the following years, Native Americans or members of the Hudson Bay Fur Company would function as bar pilots to protect goods and secure trade. It wasn’t until 1864 that the Oregon Territory established the Oregon Board of Pilot Commissioners, which provided formal licensing for the pilots. It was Captain George Flavel, one of the most skilled early bar pilots, who established the higher standards the organization has today, including a ship master’s requirement.

Today, pilots are equipped with state-of-the-art technology that allows them to do their job. Their fleet consists of two pilot boats with self-righting capabilities, as well as a twin-turbine helicopter. Without the efforts of these brave individuals, the economy of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the world, would grind to a halt. “A bar pilot can never be wrong,” said Captain George Waer. “It’s terrifying, but it’s also the most satisfying job in the world.”

A bar pilot attempts to board a cargo vessel via ladder. Photo credit: 1859 Oregon's Magazine

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