Friday morning saw the Algoway finally arriving at the North Star dock in Essexville to unload potash. Originally scheduled to open the season on the Saginaw River over a week ago, Algoway had been delayed by the abnormally strong current. She departed the North Star dock Friday evening, stern first, and with the assistance of the G-tugs Superior and Wyoming. It is rare to see a G-tug on the Saginaw River and even rarer, two, but with the conditions and boats needing assistance, they are here to help. The Superior and Wyoming also assisted the American Integrity depart Consumers Energy on Thursday.
G-tug Superior at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville
Superior and Wyoming
G-tug Wyoming at the Lafarge Cement dock
Wyoming pulling on the stern of Algoway, headed for the lake
Tugs Superior and Wyoming assisting Algoway out of the Saginaw River
The American Integrity was finally able to depart the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville, backing from the dock Thursday evening, and out to Light 12 in the Saginaw Bay to turn and head for the lake. The Integrity arrived on Wednesday, April 17th to unload coal and has been unable to safely depart since due to extreme currents in the Saginaw River from recent heavy rainfall. The USCG Cutter Hollyhock also returned to the area on Thursday, docking at the Consumers Energy Dock.
The American Integrity remains tied up at the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville as of Monday night, after arriving on Wednesday to unload coal there. The Saginaw River crested yesterday at 22.42 feet, which is 5.42 feet above flood stage, and is now beginning to recede. The current remains very strong however, with the discharge at 41,500 cubic feet per second. That is almost 12 times the normal flow.
American Integrity at the Consumers Energy Dock on April 22nd. The barge belongs to Busch Marine and is doing dredging work off the Bay City Yacht Club
The tug Spartan and barge Spartan II departed the Dow Chemical dock late Wednesday afternoon after unloading there overnight. American Integrity was inbound early Wednesday afternoon, calling on the Consumers Energy Dock to unload coal. She remained there as of this report in the late evening. The USCG Cutter Hollyhock was working AToN in the Saginaw Bay on Wednesday.
American Integrity inbound nearing the Saginaw River Front Range
USCG 49422 following behind
Approaching the Consumers Energy Dock
USCG 49422 and 45703 passing the outbound tug Karl Luedtke
The first commercial cargo of the 2013 season arrived Tuesday afternoon, when the tug Spartan, and her tank barge Spartan II, called on the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City. The pair is expected to be outbound sometime on Wednesday, current permitting.
Spartan - Spartan II rounding the band at the Essexville Range Lights
Still waiting on the Algoway, who was originally supposed to arrive on the 10th. The current in the Saginaw River is still very strong. The American Integrity is scheduled to unload coal at the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville on April 16th at 1pm.
Video of the current on the Saginaw River, April 15, 2013
Today, the tugs Kurt and Karl Luedtke were busy moving dredging equipment and setting their derrick barge back up off the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City.
Tug Kurt Luedtke pushing Derrick Barge 16 upbound for Dow Chemical
Stern view nearing the USS Edson at the Essexville Wirt Sand & Stone dock
Tug Karl Luedtke upbound at the Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse
We are still awaiting the arrival of the first commercial delivery of the season here on the Saginaw River. Algoway was scheduled to arrive at the North Star dock in Essexville on the 10th to unload potash, but due to the weather, she has not yet been able to make it in. Winds and extremely heavy rains have the Saginaw River currents churning. Flood stage is 17 feet and the Saginaw is currently at 20.83 feet with the outflow at 41,100 cubic feet per second.
Current in the Saginaw River
Some changes of note along the river: The Essroc cement terminal in Essexville is now the Lafarge cement terminal. Next door, at what was the Essexville Lafarge stone dock, it is now the Burroughs North stone dock.
While it is April 2nd and lake freighters are now out and moving cargo, there has yet to be a commercial cargo delivery to the Saginaw River. On this date in 2012, the first cargo of the season arrived when the tug Samuel de Champlain and her cement barge, Innovation, called on the Lafarge Cement Terminal in Carrollton. The river isn't without activity however, as crews from Luedtke Engineering have been busy preparing equipment, that wintered in the old Defoe Shipbuilding slip, for the upcoming dredging season. The tugs Kurt Luedtke and Karl Luedtke have both had AIS up and have been moving about.
