Saginaw River Passage - November 1, 2026: Saginaw - Part 1

Saginaw inbound the Saginaw River Sunday morning, as seen by my DSLR camera instead of the drone, at the Essexville Range Lights and Independence Bridge.  Photos taken 11/1/26

Saginaw River Passage - November 1, 2026: Defiance/Ashtabula

Defiance/Ashtabula were inbound on the Saginaw River, making the swing into the slip at Port Fisher late Sunday morning.  The pair unloaded for Bay Aggregates.  Photos taken 11/1/26

 

Saginaw River Passage - October 30, 2026: Gregoty J. Busch, Barbara Merry Busch, & Edwin C. Busch

Every fall, I make a flight over the Busch Marine tugs, on the Saginaw River, at the Carrollton Bar, just to see how they are resting on the Saginaw River compared to previous years.  I took these photos on Friday, October 30th, 2026, and there really is no change from last year other than the area being a little more overgrown.  Before the comments and questions start like they do every time I post these photos, The tugs, Gregory J. Busch, Barbara Merry Busch, and Edwin C. Busch are tied up where they always were when Busch Marine was still operating.  This is their "dock".  I would not consider them "abandoned".  This is just where the owner has them tied up and if the right offer came along, I am sure he would sell them.  If there was any environmental contamination going on, I am confident the U.S. Coast Guard and EGLE would have taken action.  The situation is similar to Islander being tied up at Scotty's Sand Bar and not moving since June 5, 2022, when she was tied up there, other than that Barbara Merry Busch is obviously resting on the bottom.  I know others will have differing opinions from mine on this, and that is fine.  Photos taken 10/30/26.

Manistee Photos - US Coast Guard Cutter Acacia & S.S. City of Milwaukee

Here are some photos from a recent camping trip to Manistee, featuring the retired U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Acacia and the retired rail ferry and now museum, S.S. City of Milwaukee, taken on a beautiful fall day.  Photos taken 10/18/26.

Saginaw River Passage - October 26, 2026: Manitowoc

Manitowoc arrived on the Saginaw River Monday afternoon, making the turn into the slip at Port Fisher.  She unloaded there for Bay Aggregates and once finished, departed for the lake just after midnight.  Photos taken 10/26/26.