Saginaw River Passages - July 26th to July 30th

After unloading at the Bay Aggregates and Buena Vista docks on Saturday, the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were back on the Saginaw River again Tuesday with a cargo for the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw.  The pair stopped in Bay City at the Wirt Stone dock for a number of hours before heading upriver to unload, however.  A work truck and trailer were seen along side, as well as a diver in the water.  The reason why is unknown.  The pair were outbound for the lake early Wednesday morning.

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber outbound at the Bay City Boat Lines Dock

Causley Marine Contracting working at the Skipper Bud's Marina

Tug Barbara Merry Busch on the Saginaw River

Built in my hometown, Bay City, MI in 1938, at Defoe Shipbuilding and launched as the Thomas E. Moran, this fine tug has had many names over the years. She currently rests at the Busch Marine Dock in Carrollton, along the banks of the Saginaw River. She has sat idle here for a number of years bearing the name BARBARA MERRY BUSCH. Photos taken July 23, 2014

On the Stern shot,  old names from a previous owners are visible on the stern. Statesboro from Zenith Tugboat Company, and Sharon Elizabeth from McAllister Towing

Saginaw River Passages - July 21st - July 23rd

The tug Olive L. Moore, with the barge, Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Saginaw River with a split cargo on Monday.  The pair dropped part of their cargo at the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City, before heading upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw.  Wednesday morning saw the arrival of the tug Undaunted and barge Pere Marquette 41.  The pair called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload, and were outbound for the lake later in the afternoon.

Saginaw River Passages - July 15th - July 18th

In the last week on the Saginaw River, there have been four commercial vessel passages.  Mississagi was inbound on Tuesday, calling on the Wirt Sand and Stone dock in Essexville to unload.  Friday saw the arrival of three vessels.  The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber arrived with a cargo for the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  Algoway traveled to the upper Saginaw River to deliver the first salt cargo of the season to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee, and the G.L. Ostrander - Integrity called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.

Algoway inbound on the Saginaw River nearing the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee

Olive L. Moore out of the notch of the Lewis J. Kuber in the Bay Aggregates Slip

Saginaw River Passages - July 9th

After spending the night at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville, 
Manitowoc proceeded upriver Tuesday morning, stopping at the GM dock in 
Saginaw to unload.  Manitowoc was outbound from the Saginaw River early Wednesday afternoon after unloading at the GM Dock in Saginaw.  Inbound Wednesday evening was the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber, calling on the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City to unload.

Manitowoc outbound from the Saginaw River at Cass Avenue

Stern view at Lafayette Bridge

Saginaw River Passages - July 7th

The tug Zeus and her tank barge, Robert F. Deegan, called on the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City on Sunday.  The pier completed their unload and were outbound for the lake Monday afternoon.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw River early Monday morning, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The pair were back outbound later in the afternoon.  Manitowoc entered the Saginaw River Monday afternoon, tying up at the Burroughs North Dock in Essexville.  She did not immediately put out her boom and it was still in the cradle hours after arriving.

Olive L. Moore out of the notch of the Lewis J. Kuber in the Bay Aggregates slip

Unloading at Bay Aggregates

Zeus - Robert F. Deegan at the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City

Manitowoc inbound on the Saginaw River at the Front Range

Tied up at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville

Stern view

Saginaw River Passage - July 3rd

The tug Undaunted, pushing the barge Pere Marquette 41, was upbound on the Saginaw River during the late afternoon on Thursday.  The pair called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload and were expected to be outbound early Friday morning.

Undaunted - Pere Marquette 41 unbound on the Saginaw River at USCG Station Saginaw River

Tug Undaunted

Making the turn into Bay Aggregates

Saginaw River Passage and June Report

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber entered the Saginaw River overnight, calling on the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City early Wednesday morning.

Commercial vessel passages for the month of June totaled fourteen.  This is a decrease of ten as compared to the same period last season and it is also below the five year average of eighteen.  Looking at the number of commercial passages for the year to date; there have been 25 so far in 2014, a decrease of twenty as compared to the same time period last season and well below the five year average of 41.  The above numbers represent a decrease of 42% for the month and 45% for the year compared to 2013.