Saginaw River Images

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Saginaw River - 2025 Year in Review: November

November on the Saginaw River saw 21 vessel passages, six fewer than during the 2024 season. We even had the first measurable snow for the season during the month. Boats visiting the Saginaw River in November were Northern Venture, Algoma Innovator, Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, Algoma Buffalo, American Mariner, Algoma Compass, G.L. Ostrander/Integrity, Sharon M I/Huron Spirit, Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41, Olive L. Moore/Menominee, Alpena, and American Courage. Here are a some of my favorite shots from the month:

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Saginaw River - 2025 Year in Review: October

October 2025 had 23 commercial vessel passages, just one more than the year before. October saw the first road salt delivery of the season, when Algoma Compass called on the Sargent Dock in Zilwaukee to unload salt from Goderich, ON. Here are some of my favorite photos from the month.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Saginaw River - 2025 in Review: September

The month of September on the Saginaw River saw 23 commercial vessel passages, six fewer than September of 2024. Alpena made her first visit of the season early in the month after her turbine repairs that delayed the start of her season. Defiance/Ashtabula made a stop at the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City, not to unload, but to receive repairs to her bow thruster, and Ryba Marine wrapped up their work dredging the Sixth Street Turning Basin, with the tug Kimberly Joy arriving to pick up equipment to move it to their next job. Vessels visiting the Saginaw River in September were American Courage, Defiance/Ashtabula, Spartan/Spartan II, Alpena, Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, Samuel de Champlain/Innovation, Manitowoc, H. Lee White, Olive L. Moore/Menominee, and Robert S. Pierson. Some of these vessels made numerous visits this month. Here are some of my favorite photographs from September.

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.