Saginaw River Passages - August 30th

It has been twelve days since the last commercial vessel passage on the Saginaw River, when the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber had visited the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks on August 18th, before the arrival of two vessels, Saturday, August 30th.  The Samuel de Champlain - Innovation called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville to unload during the morning hours, followed by the H. Lee White, who called on the Burroughs North dock in Essexville to unload.  Both vessels were expected to be outbound by early Sunday morning.

Saginaw River Passages - August 14th - 16th

Algorail was back on the Saginaw River Thursday, carrying another load of salt for the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.  She was outbound later that day.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the river Saturday, unloading at both the Bay City & Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  The pair were outbound Saturday evening.

Algorail upbound on the Saginaw River, headed to unload salt at Sargent Zilwaukee

Saginaw River Passages - August 9th & 10th

Traffic on the Saginaw River was reminiscent of days about 10 years ago, as there were four vessels moving in the river on Sunday.  Algorail was outbound after unloading at the Sagrent dock in Zilwaukee.  Robert S. Pierson was outbound after unloading at the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber was outbound after unloading at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee.  Inbound on Sunday was American Courage, calling on that Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The tug Zeus and her tank barge, Robert F. Deegan, were outbound late Saturday night after unloading at the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City.

Robert S. Pierson outbound at the Lake State Railway Bridge

American Courage inbound past the Front Range

Saginaw River Passages - August 7th

Alpena was outbound from the Saginaw River on Thursday after unloading at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.  Manitowoc was inbound during the early afternoon, calling on the GM dock in Saginaw to unload.  She was outbound later in the evening.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound during the late afternoon, stopping at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload.

Manitowoc inbound on the Saginaw River nearing Cass Avenue

Saginaw River Passages - August 4th - 6th

Algorail was inbound on the Saginaw River on Monday, traveling upriver to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to unload.  She was outbound later in the day.  Alpena arrived on Wednesday and was unloading at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.

Algorail outbound from the Saginaw River at Cass Avenue

Alpena unloading at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville

Saginaw River Passages - July 31st to August 2nd

Robert S. Pierson called on the Saginaw River on Thursday, traveling up to the GM Dock in Saginaw to unload.  The Pierson was outbound late that evening.  Manitowoc was inbound on Friday, unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City.  When finished, she turned off the dock in the Wirt Basin and was outbound for the lake early Saturday morning.  A pair of American Steamship Company vessels were inbound on Saturday, with the Sam Laud unloading at the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City and the John J. Boland unloading at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville.  Both vessels were outbound later in the day.  ASC vessels rarely call on the Saginaw River these days, so it was unusual the see two here at the same time.

Vessel Passages for the month of July totaled 16.  This is two less compared to July of 2013.  For the year to date, there have been 41 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River, 22 less than the same time period last year.  Looking at the five year averages, July was down one from the average of 17.  Year to date numbers for the 2014 season show a decrease of 11 commercial vessel passages from the five year average of 52.  Where the numbers really tell a story is looking back at the ten year average.  2014 is 24 passages down from the 10-year and a whopping 50 passages down year to date.  In 2005, there were 173 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River by July 31st, compared to only 41 in July 2014.

Manitowoc inbound at Smith Park in Essexville