Saginaw River Passage - December 30th

The tug Kathy Lynn arrived on the Saginaw River on Thursday, pushing a crane barge to the old Defore Shipbuilding slip, just below Liberty Bridge. Ryba Marine has been staging their equipment in the slip the for the past month in preperation for work in the spring. This will most likely be the final passage of the year on the Saginaw River.

Saginaw River Passage - December 21st

Stephen B. Roman called on the Saginaw River Wednesday afternoon, stopping at the Essroc Cement dock in Essexville to unload. She was expected to be outbound on Thursday.

Saginaw River Update

With the departure of the Manistee on Decmber 14th, shipping on the Saginaw River could be finished for the season. I am still out there watching and listening for any traffic, and will report it here if it happens.

This winter off season, I am also planning on running some photos of historical vessel passages and do a feature on the docks of the upper Saginaw River. Last winter I did a feature of the docks of the lower river.

Anyway, lots to keep you interested during the winter.....

Saginaw River Passages - December 13th & 14th

The tug Tenacious arrived on the Saginaw River during the day Tuesday, taking barges up to the old Defoe Shipbuilding slip, just below the Liberty Bridge. Tenacious was outbound later in the day. The USCG Cutter Hollyhock was working out in the Saginaw Bay on Tuesday working AtoN.

Wednesday saw the Manistee call on the Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw to unload and the Tug Olive L. Moore, with her barge Lewis J. Kuber, unloading at the Bay City Wirt Stone Dock. Both the Manistee and Moore-Kuber were outbound late Wednesday evening, headed for the lake.

Saginaw River Passage - December 12th

The tug Olive L. Moore, and barge Lewis J. Kuber were inbound the Saginaw River on Monday, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. The pair completed their unload during the afternoon and were then outbound for the lake.

Saginaw River Passages - December 9th

Stephen B. Roman backing to Essroc

Manitowoc arrived early Friday morning, calling on the Bay City Wirt Stone Dock to unload. She completed her unload, turned off the dock in the Wirt Turning Basin, and was outbound for the lake around 2:30 on Friday. The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber arrived Friday afternoon to call on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. To be able to back into the Bay Aggregates slip, Stephen B. Roman, who was unloading across the river at Essroc, had to move upriver to make room for the Moore-Kuber. After the pair had backed in to Bay Aggregates, the Roman backed downriver and again tied back up at the Essroc dock to finish unloading. Both vessels were expected to be outbound late Friday.

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber nearing Bay Aggregates

Manitowoc turning in the Basin at Bay City Wirt

Saginaw River Passage - December 8th

The Stephen B. Roman called on the Saginaw River on Thursday, stopping at the Essroc Dock in Essexville to unload. She was expected to be outbound early Friday morning.

Stephen B. Roman upbound nearing the Essexville Range

Saginaw River Passage - December 5th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound the Saginaw River late Monday evening, headed for the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to unload. The pair were expected to be outbound during the day Tuesday.

Saginaw River Passages - December 3rd

Michipicoten was inbound Friday evening on her first trip to the Saginaw River of 2011. She called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload, and once finished, departed for the lake early Saturday morning.

The tug Olive L. Moore, with her barge, Lewis J. Kuber, was inbound Saturday morning carrying a split load. The pair unloaded a partial cargo at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock, the continued upriver to finish unloading at the Saginaw Wirt Stone Dock. They were expected to be outbound early Sunday morning.

Saginaw River Passages - December 1st

Thursday saw the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. After unloading, the pair departed for the lake and were outbound on the Saginaw Bay during the early evening. The USCG Cutter Hollyhock was also in the area working AtoN .

For the month of November, commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River totaled twelve, a decrease of five from the seventeen recorded in 2010 and a decrease of eight over the five year average of 20 vessels. For the year to date, there have been 127 passages. This is down eleven as compared to the same period last year and 47 over the five year average of 174 for the year to date.