Monday, November 4, 2024

Saginaw River Report - October 2024

There were a total of 22 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River during the month of October 2024, with 9 different docks receiving 36 separate deliveries of product, accounting for split cargos delivered to more than one dock.  This represents the same number vessel passages as recorded during October 2023, but it is more than all of the long term averages, with the 5-year average at 21 passages for October, the 10-year average at 19 passages, the 15-year average at 18 passages, and the 20-year average of 21 vessel passages for the month of October.

For the total number of commercial vessel passages for the year-to-date, there have been 162.  This is 26 more passages than last year at this point.  Looking at the averages, the 162 passages for the year to date are more than the 5-year average of 151, the 10-year average of 135 passages, the 15-year average of 127 passages, and the 20-year average of 147 vessel passages.

During the month of October, there were 18 deliveries to the docks on the lower half of the Saginaw River, located in Essexville and Bay City, and 18 deliveries to upper river docks, located in Zilwaukee, Carrollton, and Saginaw.  Twelve vessels carried split loads with cargo unloaded at more than one dock.  Ryba Marine Construction also began maintenance dredging operations on the Saginaw River, in the section below Liberty Bridge, out into the Saginaw Bay to the Confined Disposal Island.



Sunday, November 3, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - November 3, 2024: Sam Laud

Sam Laud on the Saginaw River, backed into the slip at Port Fisher in Bay City unloading for Bay Aggregates.











Saturday, November 2, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - November 2, 2024: Northern Venture

Northern Venture inbound on the Saginaw River, headed up to the Burroughs North/GM Dock in Saginaw to finish unloading.  Earlier, she had dropped the first part of her split load at the Wirt Sand & Stone Dock in Essexville.  Northern Venture had an interesting trip, having to stop for a short time at the Wirt Dock in Bay City on her upbound trip as Liberty Bridge was unable to open for her due to a car accident on the bridge.  Then, for her downbound trip, she had to stop at the Lafayette Bridge as they had a mechanical issue and could not open.  Again, a short delay and she was able to get back on her way.













Friday, November 1, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - November 1, 2024: Samuel de Champlain/Innovation

Samuel de Champlain/Innovation inbound on the Saginaw River, calling on the Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville to unload.







Thursday, October 31, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - October 30, 2024: Herbert C. Jackson

Herbert C. Jackson was inbound on the Saginaw River Wednesday evening, delivering a split cargo to the Wirt Stone Docks in Bay City and Saginaw.















Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - October 25, 2024: Tug Kathy Lynn

Continuing on from my post yesterday about dredging operations on the Saginaw River, here is Ryba Marine's second dredging location, near the Saginaw River Front Range. The tug Kathy Lynn has been working this location.







Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Saginaw River Passage - October 24, 2024: Thomas R. Morrish

Ryba Marine Construction has been working a dredging project the Saginaw River for the past month with two dredges working at two locations. The project extends from Liberty Bridge, downriver to Saginaw Bay. These photos show the tug Thomas R. Morrish working the site near Liberty Bridge. The tug will move the crane barge when necessary and move mud scows back and forth from the dredge site to the Confined Disposal Facility at Channel Island to be unloaded and returned. You can also see in a few of the photos Ryba Marine's survey vessel taking depth readings.