Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Saginaw River Report - August 2026

The Saginaw River saw 20 commercial vessel passages during the month of August, with 12 different docks receiving a total of 31 product deliveries, accounting for split cargo loads delivered to more than one dock.  These passages represent 1 fewer passage than recorded during August 2025.  Looking at long-term averages, the 20 passages in August are less than all the long-term averages, with the 5-year average at 22, the 10-year average at 23, the 15-year average at 21 passages, and the 20-year average at 25 commercial vessel passages during the month of August.  There was also one outbound cargo: Gypsum loaded at the Sargent Docks & Terminal, bound for Green Bay, WI.  This was the third outbound cargo of the season.

The total number of commercial vessel passages for the year-to-date is 89, which is 26 fewer than last year.  Looking at the averages, the 89 passages for the year to date are less than all the long-terms, with the 5-year average being 103, 10-year average at 100, the 15-year average at 91, and the 20-year average at 96 vessel passages for the year to date as of the end of August.

During the month of August, there were 18 deliveries to the docks on the lower half of the Saginaw River, located in Essexville and Bay City, and 13 deliveries to upper river docks, located in Zilwaukee, Carrollton, and Saginaw.  9 vessels carried split loads with cargo unloaded at more than one dock.  For the year-to-date, there have been 60 lower river deliveries and 35 upper river deliveries, with 27 split loads.

The vessels making deliveries to the Saginaw River in August: Olive L. Moore/Menominee (5), Robert S. Pierson (4), Defiance/Ashtabula (3), G.L. Ostrander/Integrity (2), Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder (2), Algoma Compass, Sam Laud, Iver Bright, and Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 



Monday, August 31, 2026

Saginaw River Passage - August 31, 2026: Defiance/Ashtabula

On a rainy morning, Defiance/Ashtabula are back on the Saginaw River again Monday, making the turn into the slip at Port Fisher. They just departed the slip this past Saturday after unloading there. Photos taken 8/31/26











Sunday, August 30, 2026

Saginaw River Passage - August 30, 2026: Robert S. Pierson

Robert S. Pierson was inbound Sunday morning, bringing a split load to the Saginaw River.  She stopped first at the Wirt Sand & Stone Dock in Essexville, lightering there before continuing upriver to Saginaw, stopping at the ACE/Saginaw Paving - Crow Island Dock.  Photos taken 8/30/26












Saginaw River Passage - August 29, 2026: Defiance/Ashtabula

Up early this morning to catch Defiance/Ashtabula on the Saginaw River at sunrise, in the slip at Port Fisher, unloading for Bay Aggregates. The pair finished their unload and were outbound Saturday afternoon. Always great to get some sunrise views... Photos taken 8/29/26

















Friday, August 28, 2026

Saginaw River Passage - August 28, 2026: G.L. Ostrander/Integrity

G.L. Ostrander/Integrity were inbound on the Saginaw River, calling on the AmRize Cement Dock in Essexville to unload.  The pair arrived Friday afternoon.  Photos taken 8/28/26












Saginaw River Passage - August 28, 2026: Olive L. Moore/Menominee

For a change of scenery, I headed out to the mouth of the river to catch Olive L. Moore/Menominee inbound, passing the Dean Marine dredge, Louise, and tug, Megan J.  Olive L. Moore/Menominee were headed in with a split load for the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City and the Burroughs North/GM Dock in Saginaw.  The pair are leading the pack so far this season, with 14 visits to the Saginaw River.  Photos taken 8/28/26