Saginaw River Passage - December 23rd

Mississagi inbound on the Saginaw River, passing through Downtown Bay City, on her way to Saginaw. 12/23/15

Mississagi passing through Bay City, approaching Veteran's Memorial Bridge

Alpena Fire Update

Here is a link to update the fire damage on the Steamer Alpena:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/news/2015/12/12/cause-alpena-fire-remains-unknown/77209568/

Fire Breaks Out on the Steamer Alpena

There was a fire on board the Steamer Alpena last night as she sat on the blocks in the drydock at Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin.  Damage sounds extensive in the area of the crew accommodations at the stern of the vessel.

The following is a link to a news story on the incident:

News footage of the Alpena Fire

Saginaw River Passages - December 2nd - 8th

December 2nd saw the arrival of two vessels:  Algorail traveled upriver to unload a split cargo at two Saginaw docks - the Buena Vista Dock and the Sargent Stone Dock.  American Integrity unloaded coal at the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville.

On December 7th, the G.L. Ostrander - Integrity departed the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville headed for Alpena to load.  The pair had arrived at the Essexville Lafarge dock on November 29th and remained there until the 7th.  They were right back after loading and were back at the Essexville dock late on the evening of the 8th.

Saginaw River Report - November 2015

Commercial shipping on the Saginaw River totaled 16 vessel passages for the month of November 2015.  This is three more passages than for the same month in 2014, and it is equal to the five year average for November.  For the year to date, there have been 128 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  This is 23 more passages than last year for this time period, and four more than the five year average.

Saginaw River Passages - November 24th - 29th

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber continues to be the workhorse of the Saginaw River, logging three visits between November 24th and 29th.  The pair arrived on the 24th, delivering a split load to the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  They were back again on the 26th, delivering to the same two docks.  On the 29th, the Moore-Kuber delivered to the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City,  This was their 55th trip of the season to the Saginaw River.  Also unloading on the 29th was the tug G.L. Ostrander and her cement barge, Integrity.  The pair unloaded at the Lafarge Cenent dock in Essexville.

G.L. Ostrander - Integrity at the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber unloaidn at Bay Aggregates

Saginaw River Passages - November 21st

Friday evening saw the arrival of the Herbert C. Jackson on the Saginaw River, calling on the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City to unload.  The Jackson is an infrequent visitor to the river, last here on June 1, 2010, when she also unloaded at the Bay Aggregates dock.  American Century was able to come into the river a short time later, calling on the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville to unload coal.  Both vessels were outbound during the early morning hours on Saturday.
Saturday afternoon saw the arrival of the Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber.  The pair traveled up the ditch, to the Burroughs Materials dock in Zilwaukee.

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber upbound just above the airport

Stern view at Veteran's Memorial Park on the Bay /Saginaw County Line

Saginaw River Passages - November 13th-20th

On November 13^th, the Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber arrived on the Saginaw River and unloaded at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The pair returned on the 16^th to unload at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock.  November 17^th saw the arrival of the Sam Laud, who called on the Bay Aggregates dock to unload.  Then, back for the 3^rd time in five days, the Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber returned on the 18^th to unload at the Bay Aggregates Dock.  This was the 51^st visit for the Moore-Kuber this shipping season.  American Century arrived on the Saginaw Bay on the 19^th, but due to strong winds and low water levels in the Saginaw River, she anchored our there to wait for better conditions.  American Century remains there as of 9am on the 20^th.

Saginaw River Passages - November 7th - 10th

Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw River on Saturday, delivering a split cargo to the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City and the Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw.  The tug G.L. Ostrander and the cement barge, Integrity, were also inbound on Saturday, calling on the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville.  Monday saw the foreign flagged tanker, Larsholmen, assisted to the Port Fisher Fertilizer Dock in Bay City by the tug Gregory J. Busch.  After unloading overnight, Larsholmen was again assisted by the Gregory J. Busch, turned in the Essexville Turning Basin, and was then outbound for the lake.  The Busch then assisted the Ostrander-Integrity, who had been waiting at the Lafarge Dock.  The pair was also turned in the Essexville Basin and then headed outbound for the lake.  With the work complete, the Gregory J. Busch then headed up the Saginaw River to her home dock in Carrollton.

Gregory J. Busch waiting to assist the G.L Ostrander-Integrity

Pushing the Integrity around

Gregory J. Busch headed up the Saginaw River to her home dock

G.L. Ostrander - Integrity outbound for the Lake

Saginaw River Vessel Passages - October 2015

For the month of October, there were 13 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  This is down one passage from the same month last year, and one less then the 5-year average of 14 vessel passages.  For the year to date, there have been 112 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  This number represents an increase of 20 passages over the same time period in 2014, and in increase of four passages over the 5-year average of 108.

Passages for the last part of October included:

October 17 - American Century - Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville

October 18 - Olive L. Moore/Lewis J. Kuber - Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks

October 19 - Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 - Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City

October 24 - Olive L. Moore/Lewis J. Kuber - Bay Aggregates Dock & Burroughs Dock in Zulwaukee

October 26 - Cuyahoga - Buena Vista Dock in Saginaw & Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw

October 27 - Olive L. Moore/Lewis J. Kuber - Burroughs Dock in Zilwaukee

October 30 - Olive L. Moore/Lewis J. Kuber - Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks

Saginaw River Passages - October 12th

Alpena called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville on Saturday to unload.  She was outbound early Sunday morning.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J, Kuber were inbound Monday morning, traveling up to the Lafarge stone dock in Saginaw to unload.  The pair were expected to be outbound later in the day.

Moore - Kuber inbound on the Saginaw River, nearing Cheboyganing Creek

Saginaw River Passages - October 7th

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were back again late Tuesday night, delivering a split cargo to the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  The pair finished their unload and were outbound early Wednesday morning.  Wednesday evening saw the arrival of Algorail, headed upriver to unload at the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.

Algorail upbound on the Saginaw River just above the Airport Turning Basin

Saginaw river Passages - October 2nd - 4th

Very strong sustained winds out of the Northeast caused delays for vessels trying to deliver product to Saginaw River docks.  American Century arrived on the Saginaw Bay on October 2nd, but went to anchor south of the Charity Islands to wait for more favorable conditions before delivering her cargo of coal to the Consumers energy dock in Essexville.  She was finally able to make the dock on the morning of October 4th.  The Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber made their 40th commercial delivery to the Saginaw River on October 3rd, passing the anchored American Century and dropping a split cargo at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City and the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.

Saginaw River Traffic Report - September 2015

For the month of September, there were 17 commercial vessel deliveries on the Saginaw River.  This is down one delivery from the same month last year, but one more than the five year average of 16.  For the year to date, there have been 99 commercial deliveries to docks along the Saginaw River.  This represents 21 more than the same period during 2014 and six more than the five year average.

Saginaw River Passages - September 25th-27th

A pair of American Steamship Company vessels and one from Grand
River Navigation/Lower Lakes Transportation called on Saginaw River Docks
in the past three days.  H. Lee White was first in, calling on the
Burroughs North dock in Essexville on the 25th.  American Mariner was
next, stopping across the river from her fleet mate and unloading at the
Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City on the 26th.  Very early on the morning
of the 27th, Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound, traveling all
the way up to the last commercial dock at the Sixth Street Turning Basin,
and unloading at the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw.

Saginaw River Passages - September 23rd & 24th

The Saginaw River was busy on Thursday, with three vessels transiting the river.  Algorail was the first, arriving on the 23rd and stopping at the Essexville Wirt Sand and Stone dock. and then the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.  She was followed by Samuel de Champlain - Innovation, who called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.  Last in was Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber, who unloaded a split cargo at the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  All three vessels were outbound on the 24th.

Saginaw River Passages - September 17th

September 17th saw the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were outbound on the Saginaw River after unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw earlier in the day.  The pair had earlier dropped a partial cargo at the Bay City Wirt dock before heading up to Saginaw.  On the 16th, the Algoway had unloaded potash at the North Star dock in Essexville.

25th Anniversary of the Jupiter Explosion on the Saginaw River

September 16th marks the 25th Anniversary of the explosion of Cleveland Tankers, Jupiter, on the Saginaw River.  I was working on one of the first responding fire engines that day and remember it like it just happened.  The following are links to both a very well done article by Andrew Dodson of the Bay City Times/MLive.com and a video with interviews clips.

Jupiter Explosion 25th Anniversary Article

Video Interviews

Saginaw River Passage - September 3rd

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were back on the Saginaw River, on a very rainy Thursday afternoon, calling on the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw.  This was their 32nd trip to the Saginaw River this season.  They were outbound late Thursday evening.

The King Company tug, Matt Allen, was tied up at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville Wednesday evening.  King is conducting Dredging operations out in the Saginaw River Entrance Channel, near to Confined Disposal Island in the Saginaw Bay.

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

Matt Allen at the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville - 9/2/15

Vessel Passage Report - August 2015

Commercial vessel deliveries on the Saginaw River totaled 18 for the month of August.  This was one less compared to the same month last season.  Looking at the long term averages, August 2015 had two less commercial vessel passages than the 5-year average and six less than the 10-year average.

Looking at the 2015 shipping season to date, there have been 82 commercial vessel passages as of August 31^st.  This number represents a big increase over the 2014 season, when there were 60.  Comparing this to the 5-year average, we again see an increase for 2015 of four commercial vessel passages.  The 10-year average however comes in at 104 passages for the season through the end of August, so although traffic is increasing, we are still behind where we once were.

Saginaw River Passages - August 24th - Sept 1st

Recent commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River:

8/25 - American Century  - Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal

8/26 - Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City and Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to unload aggregates

8/30 - Algoway - Sargent Dock in Zilwaukee to unload salt

9/1 - Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks to unload aggregates

Saginaw River Passages - August 23rd

The tanker Chem Norma arrived on the Saginaw River Sunday afternoon, calling on the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock in Bay City to unload.  She was assisted by the tug Manitou.

Chem Norma unloading at the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock 

Manitou headed upriver to pick up a mud scow in Saginaw

Manitou delivering the mud scow to the Lararge Cement terminal in Essexville

Saginaw river Passages - August 16th & 17th

The H. Lee White called on the Saginaw River early Sunday morning, unloading at 
the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  Later in the morning, American Courage was 
inbound with a split cargo.  She dropped a partial load at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City, 
then continued upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw.  The third 
vessel of Sunday, Algoway, arrived and traveled up to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to 
unload salt.  The H. Lee White was outbound later on Sunday, with the American Courage 
and Algoway both outbound early Monday morning.

.

Algoway outbound at the Lake State Railway Bridge

American Courage outbound at Smith Park in Essexville

Saginaw River Passages - July 16th to July 25th

Since my last post, there have been a number of vessels calling on the Saginaw River:

July 16:
-Undaunted - Pere Marquette 41 unloading at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.

July 17:
-Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber unloading a split cargo for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone  docks.

July 20:
-H. Lee White unloading at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville.

-Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber unloading a split cargo for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone  docks.

July 22:
-Indiana Harbor unloading at the consumers energy dock in Essexville

July 23:
-Manitowoc unloading a split cargo at Bay Aggregates in Bay City and the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.

-Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber unloading a split cargo at Bay Aggregates in Bay City and the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw.

July 25:
Manitowoc unloading a split cargo for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.

Manitowoc preparing to depart the Bay City Wirt Stone dock

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber unloading at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock

Stormy weather headed for the Princess Wenonah

Manitowoc at Bay City Wirt

Bay City Boat Lines Vessels