Saginaw River Passages - December 19th

The USGC Cutter Bristol Bay escorted the tug Samuel de Champlain, and her cement barge, Innovation, into the Saginaw River on Thursday.  Bristol Bay broke the ice in the shipping channel then proceeded to open up the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville and the Essexville turning basin before heading back outbound for the lake Thursday afternoon.  The Samuel de Champlain and Innovation were at Lafarge unloading through the day and were expected to be outbound early Friday morning.

USCG Cutter Bristol Bay opening up the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville

Samuel de Champlain inbound at Consumers Energy

Unloading at Lafarge on Thursday afternoon

Saginaw River Passages - December 10, 2013

The tug Gregory J. Busch was outbound from the Saginaw River, early Tuesday morning, breaking a path through ice on the river and into Saginaw Bay, to allow safe passage of two inbound vessels.  The tug & barge combo of Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber was the first in.  The pair stopped at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City for a partial unload, then continued upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw.  Following closely behind was the H. Lee White, who called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal.  This was a somewhat surprising delivery as the majority of coal is brought to Consumers is by American Steamship 1000' vessels.  The White was outbound early Tuesday evening backing from the dock and out to open water in the Saginaw Bay to turn and head for the lake.

H. Lee White unloading coal at Consumers Energy in Essexville

Crew waiting to run a line forward

Gregory J. Busch upbound nearing Bay Harbor Marina

Stern view at the Essexville Ranges

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber upbound at Cass Avenue

At Bay City Wirt, making the dock

Moore - Kuber at Bay City Wirt Stone Dock

Saginaw River Passages - December 6th & 7th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were outbound from the Saginaw River, late Saturday afternoon, after unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw.  U.S.C.G. Cutter Hollyhock was also outbound late Saturday.  Hollyhock arrived on Friday, spending the night at the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville.  She had been working AToN in the Saginaw River Entrance Channel.

Saginaw River Passage - December 1st & November Report

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were the first visitors of December to make a delivery to a Saginaw River dock.  The pair traveled upriver Sunday afternoon, calling on the GM dock in Saginaw.  They were expected to be outbound late in the evening or early Monday morning.

For the month of November, there were 20 commercial cargo deliveries/vessel passages on the Saginaw River, an increase of three over the same time period last season and three more than the five year average.  For the year to date, there have been 133 commercial cargo deliveries/vessel passages.  This represents an increase of six deliveries more than the same period last season, but four less than the five year average.