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

Saginaw River Passage - July 15, 2026: Algoma Intrepid

The third vessel to reach the Saginaw River on Wednesday, July 15th was Algoma Intrepid, and as you can see by 4:30pm when she started up the river, conditions had changed from my earlier photos, and the smoke had set in heavy.  Algoma Intrepid slowly made her way up the river, sounding her fog signal every two minutes, making her way past G.L Ostrander/Integrity at Amrize and Olive L. Moore/Menominee at Bay Aggregates, before making the dock at the Wirt Sand and Stone Fertilizer Terminal in Essexville to unload Potash.  Photos taken 7/15/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 15, 2026: Olive L. Moore/Menominee, G.L. Ostrander/Integrity, & Princess Wenonah

Here we see G.L. Ostrander/Integrity making the Amrize dock in Essexville, with Olive L. Moore/Menominee unloading across the river in the slip, and the tour vessel Princess Wenonah inbound on the Saginaw River, passing between the two.  Photos taken 7/15/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 15, 2026: G.L. Ostrander/Integrity

The second vessel to enter the Saginaw River on Wednesday was G.L. Ostrander/Integrity, with powdered cement for the Amrize Cement Dock in Essexville.  The pair made the dock and unloaded across the river from Olive L. Moore/Menominee.  Photos taken 7/15/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 15, 2026: Olive L. Moore/Menominee

Wednesday was a busy day on the Saginaw River with four vessel arrivals.  First in was Olive L. Moore/Menominee, making the turn into the slip at Port Fisher to unload for Bay Aggregates.  The pair arrived before the smoke did and the sun was still shining as I was down at the river taking photos.  I didn't fly the drone for these shots, just using my trusty Canon Rebel T6.  I went to one of my favorite spots that I used to fly the drone from for sunrise and sunset photos.  While an FAA Temporary Flight Restriction that was set forth last spring prevents me from flying from there anymore, as it is too close to the U.S. Coast Guard Station, I can still use my handheld there and get shots of vessels passing the Saginaw River Rear Range Light!  Photos taken 7/15/26

Saginaw River Passage - July 14, 2026: Princess Wenonah

Princess Wenonah inbound on the Saginaw River, returning to her home dock at Wenonah Park after a free 2-hour narrated history cruise.  Photos taken 7/14/2026