Oct. 6 on The Story: The Columbia River Bar and its surrounding areas have a reputation, and for good reason. It can be a treacherous place, where sea swells meet strong currents and the river's constant barrage of sediment building up on the bottom. As a result, the vital cargo that moves up and down the Columbia and out to sea doesn't do so on its own — those ships are aided by the dredging crews who work diligently to keep the shipping channels clear. Environmental reporter Kale Williams went aboard the Essayons, a dredging vessel where crews work round-the-clock when called to the bar to clear the way. Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory Follow The Story on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStoryKGW Follow The Story on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestorykgw