Saginaw River Passages - July 31st

The tug Nickelena departed the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville, Tuesday afternoon,  with the two deck barges she had brought over the past week.  The tug Karen Andrie and her tank barge, Endeavour, arrived on the Saginaw River Tuesday evening.  The pair called on the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City.

Saginaw River Passages - July 29th

Tug Nickelena at the Consumers Energy Dock alongside barge BMI 192

 The Stephen B. Roman departed the Essroc Dock in Essexville on Sunday afternoon, after unloading there overnight.  The tug Nickelena and barge BMI 192 arrived at the Consumers Energy dock shortly after the Roman departed the river.  Earlier in the week, the Nickelena had arrived with the barge BMI 209.

Stern view of the pair

Nickelena and barges BMI 192 and BMI 209 at Consumers Energy

Saginaw River Passage - July 28th

Stephen B. Roman inbound passing USCG Station Saginaw River

Stephen B. Roman was inbound the Saginaw River, Saturday evening, bound for the Essroc Cement dock in Essexville to unload. The Roman was expected to be outbound on Sunday.

Roman approaching the Essroc Cement Dock

Stern view passing the Bay Aggregates Slip in Bay City

Making the dock at Essroc - note the unloading hoses.

Dropping crew to the dock to handle the wires

Another view inbound, across from the Bay Harbor Marina

Saginw River Passages - July 25th & 26th

Wednesday saw the arrival of the Basic Marine tug, Nickelena, and her deck barge.  The pair called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville, with parts and machinery for the power plant.  After dropping the barge, the Nickelena departed for the lake.

On Thursday, Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber arrived on the river, stopping to unload at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The pair was expected to be outbound late Thursday or early Friday morning.

Basic Marine barge at the Consumers Energy Dock on July 25th

Saginaw River Passage - July 23rd

Algorail was back on the Saginaw River again Monday morning, headed up to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to unload. Once finished, Algorail turned in the Sixth Street basin and was outbound for the lake late Monday afternoon.

Saginaw River Passage - July 22nd

The tug Olive L. Moore, and her barge, Lewis J. Kuber, were outbound from the Saginaw River on Sunday.  The pair had arrived on Saturday and unloaded at the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.

Saginaw River Passages - July 21st

Manitowoc was outbound from the GM Dock early Saturday morning, after unloading there overnight. Algoway finished unloading at the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee, turned in the Sixth Street Turning Basin later in the morning, then slowly departed for the lake, allowing time for her inbound fleet mate, Algorail, to make it to the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw and tie up, before continuing for the lake. Algorail finished unloading at the Buena Vista dock, turned in the Sixth Street Basin, and was outbound for the lake late Saturday afternoon. The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound Saturday with a split load. The pair stopped at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock to drop part of thier load, then waited for the outbound Algoway to clear, before heading up to Saginaw to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw. The Moore-Kuber were expected to be outbound late Saturday night.

There are 11 photos posted below from today's Saginaw River vessel passages, enjoy!


Algorail inbound nearing the Burroughs dock, headed for the Buena Vista Dock to unload



Algorail passing the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee where she had unloaded a few days before

Algoway outbound passing ADM.  She is running at a slow bell, waiting for Algorail to make the Buena Vista dock

Algoway outbound passing ADM in Carrollton

Algoway passing her fleetmate, Algorail, at the Buena Vista dock

Another view with the I-75/Zilwaukee Bridge in the Background

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber inbound at Cass Avenue, headed to the Saginaw Wirt dock

Tug Olive L. Moore in her new paint.  I think she looks great!

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber inbound passing Cass Avenue

Tugs and barges at the Busch Marine Dock.  The small tug is the Edwin Busch, while the large tug is the ex. Statesboro

Another view of the Busch Dock in Carrollton

Saginaw River Passages - July 20th

Algoway upbound past the Liberty Bridge in Bay City

Manitowoc was inbound the Saginaw River on Friday, headed up to the GM Dock in Saginaw to unload coal. Later in the day, Algoway was inbound for the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to unload salt. Both vessels were expected to be outbound late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw Bay, nearing the Saginaw River late in the evening on Friday.

Algoway upbound nearing Lafayette Bridge

Manitowoc upbound assing the Airport Turning Basin

Manitowoc passing Cheboyganing Creek headed for the GM Dock

Saginaw River Passages - July 19th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber departed the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw early Thursday morning, headed outbound for the lake. The pair had arrived on the Saginaw River on Tuesday. Algorail was inbound Thursday morning, once again headed to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to unload salt. She completed her unload and was outbound for the lake later in the day.


Of interesting note, there have been 61 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River this season, of those, over half, 32, belong to these two boats: 21 for the Moore-Kuber and 11 for the Algorail.

Saginaw River Passage - July 18th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the Saginaw River late Tuesday evening, traveling upriver and stopping at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw. Early Wednesday morning, the pair had moved up to the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw and have been tied up there ever since. It is not known the reason or if there is a problem.

Saginaw River Passages - July 17th

Algorail outbound at Smith Park - July 17, 2012

Algorail was inbound early Tuesday morning, headed up the Saginaw River to the Sargent Dock in Zilwaukee to unload. Once finished, she turned at Sixth Street in Saginaw and was then outbound for the lake, Tuesday evening. A few hours later, the tug Olive L. Moore and her barge, Lewis J. Kuber, were inbound, headed up to Saginaw River to unload at a Saginaw area dock.

Algorail making the bend at the Essexville Range Lights - July 17, 2012

Saginaw River Passage - July 15th

Manitowoc turned off the Bay City Wirt Dock early Sunday morning, after unloading there overnight, and headed outbound for the lake. Inbound on Sunday was Stephen B. Roman, who called on the Essroc dock in Essexville to unload. Once finished, the Roman turned in the Essexville Basin and departed for the lake, late Sunday afternoon.

Stephen B. Roman unloading Sunday afternoon at the Essroc Cement Dock in Essexville

Saginaw River Passage - July 14th

Manitowoc was inbound on the Saginaw River, late Saturday morning, calling on the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City to unload.  She was expected to be outbound late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.  This is the first commercial delivery on the Saginaw River since July 8th

Manitowoc inbound at the Essexville Range.

Looking back at the month of June 2012, there were 16 commercial vessel passages, down three from the same month last year.  For the year to date, there have been 58 commercial deliveries.  This is 22 more passages than during the same period last year.

Manitowoc passing the Lafarge Stone dock in Essexville.

Saginaw River Updates from June 23rd to July 2nd

Here are the updates from when I was gone on vacation:

During the week, the tug Zeus and her tank barge, called on the Dow Chemical dock to unload.  The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the Saginaw River three times, unloading at the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw two times, the Lafarge Stone dock in Essexville once, and the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City once.  Manitowoc unloaded at the Bay City Wirt Stone Dock, the tug Gregory J. Busch left her home port, headed for the lakes, the the navel sea cadets training vessel, SCS Greyfox arrived in Bay City, docking at the Wenonah Park dock, staying for a week.

Saginaw River Passages - July 7th & 8th

Saturday saw American Mariner calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload. She was back outbound for the lake Saturday evening. the tug Barbara Andrie and tank barge A-390 called on the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City early Sunday morning to unload. The pair were outbound late Sunday afternoon.

Saginaw River Passages - July 4th-6th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber was inbound the Saginaw River on Wednesday, carrying a split load for the Essexville and Saginaw Lafarge Stone Docks. The pair completed their unload and were outbound for the lake, but stopped at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock for repairs their bow thruster. They departed Wirt and were once again back outbound for the lake Friday evening.


Inbound Friday evening was the Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder with a cargo for the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City. The pair were outbound early Saturday morning.

Saginaw River Photo - July 4th

SCS Greyfox upbound on the Saginaw River this morning, just clear of Independence Bridge.

Saginaw River Photos - July 3rd

Here are some shots taken today while I was onboard the vessel ISLANDER:

The tugs Floyd Sr., Jill Marie, and Causley Marine Contracting's small tug.  I am not sure on the name.

Updates Coming!

Hi Everyone,

I am just home from a week long camping trip with my family.  Please be patient, updates on the Saginaw River will be coming once I get everything sorted out......