Saginaw River Passage - June 29th

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the Saginaw River Sunday afternoon.  The pair stopped briefly at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville as the Saginaw River was closed to vessel traffic between Veteran's Memorial Bridge and Liberty Bridge due to the annual "River Roar" tunnel boat races.  Once the river was opened to traffic, the Moore-Kuber traveled upriver to unload at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee.

Saginaw River Passages - June 24th - June 28th

Well, to get everyone back up to date after my vacation:

Tuesday, June 24, saw the arrival of the Larsholmen, calling on the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock in Bay City.  She was assisted by the tug Manitou, who had arrived on the 23rd and was standing by.

Wednesday, June 25 saw the arrival of two vessels.  Alpena called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville and Algoway to the North Star dock in Essexville.  This was the first visit by each vessel to the Saginaw River this season.

Saginaw River Passage - June 20th

Saginaw called on her namesake river on Friday, traveling up the Saginaw River to unload at the Buena Vista dock.  She completed her unload and was back outbound for the lake later in the day.

Saginaw River Passage - June 10th

The saltwater tanker, Harbour Feature, arrived on the Saginaw River Monday morning, calling on the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock to unload.  She had finished by Tuesday morning, and with the assistance of the tug Manitou, turned in the Essexville turning basin and headed outbound for the lake.  This is the second visit by a saltwater vessel to the Saginaw River in the past week.  Manitou returned to the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville and tied up there.

Manitou approaching the Harbour Feature

Pushing on the bow to make the turn in the Essexville Basin

Almost around

Harbour Feature turned and headed for the lake

Saginaw River Passages - June 8th

The tug Olive L. Moore, and her barge, Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City early Friday morning.  While the pair were unloading, the tug Leonard M. and barge Huron Spirit arrived, carrying a cargo for the same dock.  The Leonard M.- Huron Spirit put a few lines out at the Lafarge Cement dock across the river from Bay Aggregates to both wait for the Moore-Kuber to depart and to allow the YM Saturn to proceed outbound from the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock, where she had unloaded overnight.  The YM Saturn had no difficulty turning in the Essexville basin, plus the tug Manitou was standing by to assist if needed.  The YM Saturn and Olive L. Moore  were outbound from the Saginaw River and headed for the lake on Friday.  The Leonard M. - Huron Spirit was outbound early Saturday morning.  Sunday morning saw the return of the Moore-Kuber, this time with a split cargo for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks.  The pair were outbound later in the day.  Manitou remained at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville to assist the tanker Harbour Feature when she arrives, also to unload at the Port Fisher Fertilizer Dock.

Leonard M. - Huron Spirit upbound passing U.S.C.G. Station Saginaw River

Tug Leonard M.

Stern view passing Bay Aggregates

Manitou headed upriver to assist the YM Saturn

Manitou and YM Saturn

Manitou standing by at the stern of the YM Saturn

Across the Saginaw River in the Essexville Turning Basin

YM Saturn almost turned

Turned and headed for the lake

Manitou passing the YM Saturn and headed for the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville

Tug Jill Marine at Bay Harbor Marina

Saginaw River Passages - June 5th

Sam Laud called on the Saginaw River on Wednesday, unloading at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The Laud was outbound for the lake later in the morning.  Thursday morning saw the arrival of the YM Saturn.  Assisted by the tug Manitou, the Saturn tied up at the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock in Bay City to unload.  Manitou remained in the area, tying up at the Lafarge Cement dock, standing by to assist the YM Saturn from the dock when finished unloading.

YM Saturn at the Port Fisher Fertilizer Dock

Stern view

Manitou at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville

Saginaw River Passages - June 3rd

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw River on Tuesday, traveling upriver to unload at the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.  The pair finished their unload and were back outbound for the lake later in the evening.  The tug Manitou also arrived overnight, tying up at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.  Manitou is on hand to assist the YM Saturn, who is scheduled to arrive in the next few day to unload at the Port Fisher Fertilizer Dock.

The slow start to the Great Lakes shipping season was also evident on the Saginaw River.  For the month of May, there were nine commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  That is only half of the total from last season, when there were 18 during the same period.  It is also below the five year average of 12.  For total passages, year to date, there were 11.  That is 10 less then last season and 12 less than the five year average of 23.

Saginaw River Passage - June 1

The tug Undaunted and Barge Pere Marquette 41 called on the Saginaw River Sunday morning, traveling upriver to the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw.  The pair completed their unload and were outbound for the lake late Sunday night.