Saginaw River Passage - July 23, 2026: Sam Laud

Sam Laud arrived on the Saginaw River overnight, traveling to the upper river to unload at the Burroughs North/GM Dock in Saginaw.  She finished unloading by early morning, turned in the Sixth Street Turning Basin, and was outbound for the lake before noon.  There photos are taken of Sam Laud at the Burroughs North/GM Dock in Saginaw this morning, tied up with her boom in the saddle, as she waited for U.S. Coast Guard Station Saginaw River's 49' BUSL 49422 to clear the turning basin.  Photos taken 7/23/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 21, 2026: Dean Marine & Excavating

The view at the eastern end of the Port Fiser Terminals Dock, on Tuesday morning, show the staging area for dredging equipment from Dean Marine & Excavating, including the tug Megan J., work boats, a suction dredge, and hundreds of feet of dredge pipe.  I do not know what area of the river or when they will start, but it doesn't appear to be too far in the distant future...  Photos taken on 7/21/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 21, 2026: Sharon M I/Huron Spirit

McKeil Marine's tug, Sharon M I, and self-unloading barge, Huron Spirit, arrived on the Saginaw River the evening of July 19th with a cargo for Bay Aggregates.  American Courage was already in the slip finishing an unload, so the pair continued the short distance upriver, tying up at the Port Fisher Terminals Dock to wait for the slip to be clear.  After American Courage departed, Sharon M I/Huron Spirit backed into the slip to unload.  As of Tuesday morning, July 21st, the pair had completed their unload and remained tied up in the Port Fisher Slip.  Photos taken 7/21/26

Soo Locks - July 19, 2026: John G. Munson

John G. Munson has been on my list for a while now.  I have never caught her in person before, until Sunday.  While at the Soo Locks for the weekend, she tied up at the West Pier just as we were planning on leaving for home.  She had to wait for Presque Isle to clear the Poe Lock, then she slowly made her way in.  I would have loved to hang around to get some drone shots after she cleared the locks, but we just didn't have the time for that.  I was just happy to see her and check another classic off my list.  Photos taken 7/19/26

St. Clair River - June 23rd through June 28th, 2026

Just to finish up the St. Clair River photos from June, I finally went through my handheld camera to see what I had.  Here are some of my favorite non-drone shots:

Saginaw River Passage - July 16, 2026: Edward H. & Megan J.

Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc. began to stage dredging equipment on the Saginaw River on Thursday, with the arrival of the tugs Edward H. and Megan J.  A deck barge and a suction dredge were dropped at the Port Fisher Terminals Dock, before the tug Edward H. departed and headed back for the lake.  Photos taken 7/16/26.

Saginaw River Passage - July 16, 2026: Algoma Intrepid

Completing her unload overnight, Algoma Intrepid turned in the Essexville Basin Thursday morning and was outbound from the Saginaw River.  After turning, she held her position in the basin for short time to allow the inbound tug Edward H., pushing a deck barge and the suction dredge Louise, to make the Port Fisher Terminals Dock.  The tug Megan J. was also inbound and held station just outside the Port Fisher Slip as Algoma Intrepid passed by.  Princess Wenonah was also outbound at the time and followed Algoma Intrepid outbound on the Saginaw River.  Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc. is staging equipment at Port Fisher for an upcoming dredging project.  Photos taken 7/16/26