Found on YouTube. Created by "Columbia River Bar Pilots". Originally published on 2021-06-27.
There are approximately 160 Columbia River Pilots, which are organized into two associations. The Columbia River Pilots Association (CRPA) is made up of 80 pilots, while the Washington Pilots Association (WPA) consists of 80 pilots.
In 1846, the first Columbia River Bar Pilots were established to ensure the safety of ships, crews, and cargo crossing the dangerous and challenging Columbia River Bar, which is well-known for being one of the world’s most dangerous and challenging navigation routes.
Robert Gray was the first person to arrive on the Columbia River in 1792 aboard the Boston-registered ship Columbia Rediviva. Gray operated as his own pilot, sending a boat to search for the deepest water that he could find. As the trade expanded, locals began to serve as bar pilots. Pilotage on the river was regulated in 1846 by a bill passed by the Oregon provisional legislature. The Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots oversees bar pilots, determining how many pilots are required to work on the grounds, as well as how much ships should be charged for service. As of 2008, 14 pilots handled 3,600 ship transits a year on average. License requirements for Columbia River Bar Pilots are the highest in the country.
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