Saginaw River Images

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2025: Iver Bright & North Dakota

Finishing up my coverage of Iver Bright and North Dakota on the Saginaw River from Friday with photos of them both together and entering the Port Fisher Slip. Photos taken 12/12/25.

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2025: Iver Bright

Iver Bright was inbound on the Saginaw River at sunrise Friday morning, headed for the slip at Port Fisher to unload for Bit-Mat Products. She encountered ice conditions in Saginaw Bay before Light 1 of the Entrance Channel but was able to make the trip all the way to the Port Fisher Slip unassisted. The tug North Dakota broke ice in the slip and the turn into the slip for Iver Bright. Photos taken 12/12/25.

Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2025: North Dakota - Part 2

North Dakota underway on the Saginaw River, traveling downbound from Cass Avenue, arriving at the Port Fisher Slip to open up the ice for the arriving Iver Bright. Photos taken 12/12/25.

Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2025: North Dakota - Part 1

North Dakota was outbound on the Saginaw River, near Cass Avenue in Bay City, when she stopped for a short time heading to assist Iver Bright into the Port Fisher Slip. This allowed the perfect opportunity to get some shots of the stationary tug as the sun was coming up. Photos taken 12/12/25.

Following the boats of the Saginaw River and Great Lakes

Here is a little background on my history with the boats: I have been an avid photographer and follower of the big lake freighters that carry their cargoes between the ports of the Great Lakes. During that time, a number of my photos have been used by various shipping companies and in publications from the U.S. Coast Guard, Lake Carriers Association, the Marine Legal Review, and in the annual boatwatchers bible, "Know Your Ships". I also report news and vessel passage information from the Saginaw River to both Boatnerd.com and to the local newspaper, The Bay City Times, and have been fortunate enough to have had the honor of being aboard and taking a trip on a Great Lakes Freighter. I am also a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner, Captain and deckhand for the Bay City Boat Lines, and a Deckhand for Malcom Marine, Inc.

In this blog, you will see information on the vessels that ply the waters of the Saginaw River, photos, and vessel passage information. I hope that you will enjoy what is posted here.