Newport in Lincoln County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Safety at Yaquina Bay Today

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 28, 2021

1. Safety at Yaquina Bay Today Marker

Inscription.

Safety at Yaquina Bay Today. . The wreck of the Yaquina City. The steamer Yaquina City was one of the four ships that ran the route between San Francisco and Yaquina City (now a ghost town up the bay)., The ships carried freight (mostly wheat) and passengers., In December 1887, the Yaquina City went aground near the south jetty and was demolished by the surf., Her replacement, the Yaquina Bay, upon entering the harbor for the first time, also went aground and was a total loss., Storm warnings You might note a flag pole standing alone to the west of the Coast Guard buildings. This is where the storm warnings are hoisted., These are observed carefully by the locals, since they rub shoulders with the mighty ocean almost daily and know there is no compromise., The Coast Guard is also responsible for maintaining the channel markers in the river and in the ocean off the end of the jetties., Small craft One RED pennant displayed by day and a RED light over a WHITE light at night to indicate winds as high as 33 knots (38 m.p.h.) and/or sea conditions considered dangerous to small craft operations are forecast for the area. Gale Two RED pennants displayed by day and a WHITE light above a RED light at night to indicate winds within the range 34 to 47 knots (39 to 54 m.p.h.) are forecast for the area. Whole gale A single square RED flag with a BLACK center displayed during daytime and two RED lights at night to indicate that winds 48 knots (55 m.p.h.) and above are forecast for the area. If the winds are associated with a tropical cyclone (hurricane), the "WHOLE GALE" display indicates winds 48 to 63 knots (55 to 73 m.p.h.) are forecast. Hurricane Displayed only in connection with a tropical cyclone (hurricane). Two square RED flags with BLACK centers displayed by day and a WHITE light between two RED lights at night to indicate that winds 64 knots (74 m.p.h.) and above are forecast for the area., There are always two markers at sea, but in the summer months an additional two are added to aid the boat traffic., One of the markers in the river is a whistle buoy. It operates day and night. Also seasonal is another marker which is placed near the tip of the south jetty. It is a fog horn and is badly needed since our coastal weather is often quite foggy in the summer., Yes , you do get used to the sound of the whistle!, DredgingThe hopper dredge Yaquina. Hopper dredges are seagoing vessels designed to dredge and transport dredged material to open-water disposal areas. The working of a hopper dredge is similar to that of a home vacuum cleaner., Dragarms (A) with dragheads (B) extend from each side of the ship's hull. The dragheads are lowered to the channel bottom and slowly pulled over the area to be dredged. Pumps (C) create suction in the dragarm and the silt or sand is drawn up through the arm and deposited in the hopper bin in the vessel's midsection. When the bins are full, the dredge sails to the designated disposal area and empties the dredged material through large hopper doors (E) in the bottom of the hull., Caption (bottom right): The wreck of the Blue Magpie, November, 1983. . This historical marker was erected by Friends of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse . Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department. It is in Newport in Lincoln County Oregon

The wreck of the Yaquina City The steamer Yaquina City was one of the four ships that ran the route between San Francisco and Yaquina City (now a ghost town up the bay).

The ships carried freight (mostly wheat) and passengers.

In December 1887, the Yaquina City went aground near the south jetty and was demolished by the surf.

Her replacement, the Yaquina Bay, upon entering the harbor for the first time, also went aground and was a total loss.

Storm warnings
You might note a flag pole standing alone to the west of the Coast Guard buildings. This is where the storm warnings are hoisted.

These are observed carefully by the locals, since they rub shoulders with the mighty ocean almost daily and know there is no compromise.

The Coast Guard is also responsible for maintaining the channel markers in the river and in the ocean off the end of the jetties.

Small craft One RED pennant displayed by day and a RED light over a WHITE light at night to indicate winds as high as 33 knots (38 m.p.h.) and/or sea conditions considered dangerous to small

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craft operations are forecast for the area.
Gale Two RED pennants displayed by day and a WHITE light above a RED light at night to indicate winds within the range 34 to 47 knots (39 to 54 m.p.h.) are forecast for the area.
Whole gale A single square RED flag with a BLACK center displayed during daytime and two RED lights at night to indicate that winds 48 knots (55 m.p.h.) and above are forecast for the area. If the winds are associated with a tropical cyclone (hurricane), the "WHOLE GALE" display indicates winds 48 to 63 knots (55 to 73 m.p.h.) are forecast.
Hurricane Displayed only in connection with a tropical cyclone (hurricane). Two square RED flags with BLACK centers displayed by day and a WHITE light between two RED lights at night to indicate that winds 64 knots (74 m.p.h.) and above are forecast for the area.

There are always two markers at sea, but in the summer months an additional two are added to aid the boat traffic.

One of the markers in the river is a whistle buoy. It operates day and night. Also seasonal is another marker which is placed near the tip of the south jetty. It is a fog horn and is badly needed since our coastal weather is often quite foggy in the summer.

Yes — you do get used to the sound of the whistle!

Dredging

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 28, 2021

2. Safety at Yaquina Bay Today Marker

Marker is in this kiosk near the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse (background).

The hopper dredge Yaquina Hopper dredges are seagoing vessels designed to dredge and transport dredged material to open-water disposal areas. The working of a hopper dredge is similar to that of a home vacuum cleaner.

Dragarms (A) with dragheads (B) extend from each side of the ship's hull. The dragheads are lowered to the channel bottom and slowly pulled over the area to be dredged. Pumps (C) create suction in the dragarm and the silt or sand is drawn up through the arm and deposited in the hopper bin in the vessel's midsection. When the bins are full, the dredge sails to the designated disposal area and empties the dredged material through large hopper doors (E) in the bottom of the hull.

Caption (bottom right): The wreck of the Blue Magpie, November, 1983.

Erected by Friends of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse • Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1887.

Location. 44° 37.419′ N, 124° 3.775′ W. Marker is in Newport, Oregon, in Lincoln County. Marker is on Yaquina Bay State Park, 0.2 miles west of U.S. 101, on the left when traveling east. Marker is in a kiosk near the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

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in Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newport OR 97365, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lighthouses Weren't Enough (here, next to this marker); Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast (here, next to this marker); Yaquina Bay Light (here, next to this marker); Yaquina Bay Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Yaquina Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36503 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Protecting the Coast (approx. half a mile away); Reeling Them In (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport.

More about this marker. The order of text in the inscription has been altered to emphasize the historical portion of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 120 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.