Saginaw River Passage - June 29th

The USNCS Greyfox called on the Saginaw River on Monday, docking in Downtown Bay City at the Wenonah Park dock. The Gray Fox was brought to Bay City through the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum and will be open to visitors and for tours through July 4th. For more information on the Gray Fox’s availability or to schedule a tour, call the Saginaw Naval Ship Museum at (989) 684-3946.

Saginaw River Passages - June 27th

Mississagi was inbound Sunday afternoon, headed all the way up to Sixth Street in Saginaw with a cargo for the Lafarge Stone dock. She had to stop briefly at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City to wait for the Saginaw River to open to vessel traffic between Liberty and Veteran's Memorial bridges. This was due to the Bay City River Roar powerboat races that have been going on all weekend. Mississagi made the dock late Sunday afternoon and was expected outbound late evening. Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville during the afternoon. She completed her unload and was backing out into the Saginaw Bay to turn and head for the lake Sunday evening.

Saginaw River Passages - June 25th

With the upper Saginaw River dredging project coming to a close, crews from Ryba Marine have been busy the past few days breaking down their equipment and pulling dredge pipe. Both the tug Kathy Lynn and tug Tenacious made two trips from the upper river on Friday, moving barges from the Confined Disposal Facility and the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee, down to the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville in preparation for departing the area.

Saginaw River Passage - June 24th

Calumet was inbound the Saginaw River early Thursday morning, traveling up the river to the GM dock in Saginaw to unload. Once finished, she turned in the Sixth Street basin and was outbound for the lake late in the afternoon. Ryba Marine's Tugs Kathy Lynn and Tenacious were both tied up with derrick barges at the confined disposal area near Cheboyganing Creek on Thursday.

Saginaw River Passages - June 22nd

Monday on the Saginaw River, the tug Gregory J. Busch, pushing a deck barge, was outbound for the lake on her first trip of the season. Tuesday saw Algorail inbound for the Buena Vista Dock in Saginaw to unload. She was expected to be outbound early Wednesday morning.

Saginaw River Passage - June 17th

The tug Barbara Andrie and tank barge A-390 called on the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City on Thursday. The pair unloaded through the day and were outbound for the lake late Thursday night.

Saginaw River Passage - June 15th

The tug Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City on Tuesday night to unload. The pair finished early Wednesday morning and were outbound for the lake.

Saginaw River Passage - June 14

Late Sunday evening saw the arrival of the Calumet, carrying a split cargo. She lightered at the Bay City Wirt stone dock before continuing upriver to finish unloading at the Saginaw Wirt stone dock. Calumet was expected to be outbound Monday morning. Her arrival marked third Lower Lakes Towing vessel and fourth vessel overall of the day on Sunday.

Saginaw River Passages - June 13th

A number of vessels have called on the Saginaw River this weekend. Saturday saw the Indiana Harbor arrive with coal for the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville. She completed her unload and backed out into the Saginaw Bay to turn early Sunday morning. Later in the morning, the tug Olive L. Moore with the Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. As they were finishing their unload, Manitowoc was inbound at the Front Range, waiting for the same dock. Manitowoc pulled just past the Bay Aggregates slip and waited for the Moore/Kuber to depart for the lake. Once clear, Manitowoc backed into the Bay Aggregate slip to unload. Also on Sunday, the Maumee was inbound, traveling upriver to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to unload. This was the second time in three days she called on Burroughs to unload. Maumee departed the dock to head for the Sixth Street basin and turn for the lake late Sunday afternoon.

Saginaw River Passages - June 11th

Calumet inbound at the confined disposal island in the Saginaw Bay

Maumee made her first appearance of the season Friday afternoon, traveling up the Saginaw River to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee. Calumet was inbound Friday evening headed for the GM Dock in Saginaw. She passed her outbound fleetmate, Maumee, late Friday night as she was headed for the lake after finishing her unload at the Burroughs dock.

Calumet upbound at Veteran's Memorial Bridge

Saginaw River Passage - June 10th

The CSL Tadoussac called on the Saginaw River Thursday, stopping at the Essroc Cement dock in Essexville to unload. She had finished by late evening and back out to Light 12 in the Saginaw Bay to turn and head for the lake. This was the first cargo delivered to the Essroc dock since August 26th of last year when the Frontenac called there, and the first visit by the CSL Tadoussac since December 23rd of 2008.

Saginaw River Passage - June 9th

The steamer Alpena made her way up the Saginaw River early Wednesday morning, calling on the Lafarge Cement dock in Carrollton. She was outbound for the lake later in the afternoon. This was Alpena's second trip to Lafarge Carrollton this season and there has now been one more delivery than all of last season to the Lafarge dock.

Saginaw River Passage - June 5th

The Olive L. Moore / Lewis J. Kuber arrived on the Saginaw River Saturday afternoon with a split cargo. Thge pair stopped at the Lafarge dock in Essexville to unload a partial cargo, then proceeded upriver to finish unloading at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee. The Moore & Kuber were outbound for the lake Sunday morning.

Saginaw River Passages - June 1st

After a slow month of May, traffic on the Saginaw River picked up a little to start June. Monday evening saw the arrival of the tug Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber with a split load. The pair lightered at the Lafarge dock in Essexville before continuing upriver to finish unloading at the GM dock in Saginaw. They were outbound for the lake Tuesday morning. Arriving on Tuesday were the Herbert C. Jackson, who unloaded at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City, and the Mississagi, who traveled up to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to unload. Both vessels were outbound Tuesday night.

End of May Saginaw River Report

With the month of May now in the books, there were only 13 commercial vessel deliveries to the docks along the Saginaw River. This is 12 fewer than the same time period last year and well below the average of 30 over the past six years.

Looking at the year to date, there have been 31 vessel passages in 2010. This is only one less than last year, but still well below the six year average of 52.

April started the season strong, but this has been the worst May in the six years I have been keeping records.