Saginaw River Passage - August 8, 2026: Robert S. Pierson

In what has been a slow start to the month of August, with only two vessel passages, Robert S. Pierson made it three, arriving on the Saginaw River on Saturday evening at sunset.  She traveled upriver to the Sargent Docks & Terminal in Zilwaukee to unload salt taken on in Goderich, ON.  Once finished Sunday morning, Robert S. Pierson headed up to the Sixth Street Turning Basin, winding around, before heading outbound for the lake.  Photos taken 8/8/26

Saginaw River Passage - August 5, 2026: Algoma Compass

As the sun rose over the Saginaw River this morning, Algoma Compass was backed into the slip at Port Fisher, unloading for Bay Aggregates. She had arrived late last night, just after 10pm, departing this morning around 9am after completing her unload. Photos taken 8/5/26,

Saginaw River Report - July 2026

The Saginaw River saw 26 commercial vessel passages during the month of July, with 10 different docks receiving a total of 35 product deliveries, accounting for split cargo loads delivered to more than one dock.  These passages represent 6 fewer passages than recorded during July 2025.  Looking at long-term averages, the 26 passages in July equaled the 5-year average at 26 passages, but it was higher than the 10-year average at 25, the 15-year average at 22 passages, and the 20-year average at 22 commercial vessel passages for the month of July.  There was also one outbound cargo: Gypsum loaded at the Sargent Docks & Terminal, bound for Green Bay, WI.  This was the second of the season.

The total number of commercial vessel passages for the year-to-date is 69, which is 25 fewer than last year.  Looking at the averages, the 69 passages for the year to date are less than all the long-terms, with the 5-year average being 81, 10-year average at 77, the 15-year average at 70, and the 20-year average at 73 vessel passages for the year to date as of the end of July.

During the month of July, there were 22 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 July: Olive L. Moore/Menominee (5), Sam Laud (3), Manitoulin (2), G.L. Ostrander/Integrity (2), American Courage (2), Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder (2), Herbert C. Jackson, Candace Elise/Robert F. Deegan, Iver Bright, Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41, Algoma Intrepid, Sharon M I/Huron Spirit, Alpena, H. Lee White, Defiance/Ashtabula, Algoma Compass

The number of deliveries and docks receiving or shipping cargo were:

8 – Wirt Stone Dock – Bay City

7 – Port Fisher/Bay Aggregates – Bay City

6 – Wirt Stone Dock – Saginaw

5 – Burroughs North – GM Dock – Saginaw

3 – Amrize Cement Dock – Essexville

2 – Burroughs North 1^st Street Dock – Saginaw

1 – Wirt Sand & Stone Fertilizer Dock - Essexville

1 – Burroughs North – Essexville Dock

1 – Port Fisher/Occidental Chemical – Bay City

1 – Port Fisher/Bit Mat Products – Bay City

1 – Sargent Docks & Terminal – Zilwaukee (outbound cargo)

Saginaw River Passage - August 2, 2026: Robert S. Pierson & North Dakota

Robert S. Pierson outbound on the Saginaw River, being trailed by the tug North Dakota. Robert S. Pierson arrived shortly after 1am on Sunday, traveling up to the Sargent Docks & Terminal in Zilwaukee to unload road salt. She was outbound Sunday afternoon. Photos taken 8-2-26