Saginaw River Passage - December 17th

Manitou on the Saginaw River this morning, tied up at Lararge Cement in Essexville. Earlier, she had helped G.L. Ostrander-Integrity get turned around and headed outbound from the river. 12/17/16

Saginaw River Passage - December 14th

G.L. Ostrander - Integrity at the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville, on a frozen Saginaw River - 12/15/16

Saginaw River Vessel Passages - November 2016

Commercial shipping on the Saginaw River started out quickly during the month of November, but then abruptly stopped after November 16th, when the last commercial delivery was recorded for the month.  The famous November Gales played a part in this as two strong systems, bringing heavy winds and waves to the Great Lakes, slowed shipping as vessels went to anchor to wait out the storms.

There were a total of seven commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River during the month of November.  This number represents nine fewer passages as compared to November 2015 and eight fewer then the 5-year average of 15.  For the total vessel passages for the year-to-date, there have been a total of 103.  This is 25 less than in 2015 and 16 fewer than the 5-year average of 119.

Saginaw River Passages - September 21 to October 10

Updating the commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River, since September 21st:

9/21 - OLIVE L. MOORE - LEWIS J. KUBER, Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw

9/25 - ALPENA, Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville

9/28 - OLIVE L. MOORE - LEWIS J. KUBER, Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw

9/29 - DOROTHY ANN - PATHFINDER, Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks

10/4 - WALTER J. MCCARTHY, JR., Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville

10/4 - CALUMET, Burroughs Dock in Zilwaukee and Lafarge Stone Dock in Saginaw

10/6 - HERBERT C. JACKSON, Wirt Sand and Stone Dock in Essexville

10/8 - HERBERT C. JACKSON, Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks

10/10 - HERBERT C. JACKSON, Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks

10/10 - ROBERT S. PIERSON, Sargent Dock in Zilwaukee

10/10 - UNDAUNTED - PERE MARQUETTE 41, Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City

Saginaw River Report - September 2016

For the month of September, there were 15 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  This is a decrease of two passages as compared to the year before, but right on the 5-year average of 15 passages for September.

Looking at the year-to-date for the end of September, there were 75 commercial vessel passages.  This represents a decrease of 24 passages from the 99 logged last year during the same time period.  Looking at the 5-year average, 2016 is 15 commercial vessel passages below the average for the same time period.

Saginaw River Passages - September 17th to 20th

The John J. Boland called on the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City on the 17th, unloading there during the day.  The Boland departed the slip there and was back outbound for the lake a short time later.
On the 20th, Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder were inbound on the Saginaw River, carrying a split cargo.  The pair dropped a partial cargo at the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City, then traveled upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw.  Also inbound later in the morning was the Walter J. McCarthy, Jr., calling on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville.  Both vessels are expected to be outbound Tuesday afternoon.

Saginaw River Passages - August 27th to September 14th

There have been a number of vessel passages on the Saginaw River since my last post:

-August 27th - Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder - Bay Aggregates Dock - Bay City

-September 1st: Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Burroughs North Dock - Essexville

-September 3rd: Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Lafarge Stone Dock - Saginaw

-September 9th: American Century - Consumers Energy Dock - Essexville

-September 9th: Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Wirt Stone Dock - Bay City

-September 11th: Saginaw - Buena Vista Dock - Saginaw

-September 11th: Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder - Wirt Stone Dock - Bay City & Saginaw

-September 12th: Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber - Buena Vista Dock

-September 14th: Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder - Wirt Stone Dock - Bay City

Saginaw River Report - August 2016

Traffic on the Saginaw River was down for August 2016, with only 12 commercial vessel passages logged for the month. This is down six passages from the 18 logged during August 2015. It is also 5 fewer than the 5-year average of 17. For the year to date, there have been a total of 60 commercial vessel passages. This represents a total of 22 fewer than last year's 82, and 14 fewer than the 5-year average of 74.

Saginaw River Passages - August 11th to 26th

August 9th through 26th, 2016

There have been a number of vessel passages since my last post here:

August 11 - The Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder traveled up the Saginaw river, unloading at the GM dock in Saginaw.

August 13 - Algoway called on the Saginaw River, unloading at the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City.

August 20 - G.L. Ostrander - Integrity unloaded at the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville.

August 22 - Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder returned, this time delivering a split cargo for both the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone Docks.

August 26 - Walter J. McCarthy, Jr. called at the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville to unload coal.

Saginaw River Passage - August 8th

The tug Defiance, and her barge, Ashtabula, unloaded at the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City this afternoon. The pair departed early in the evening.

Saginaw River Passages - August 4th

The tug Zeus, and her tank barge, Robert F. Deegan, called on the Port Fisher dock in Bay City to unload Thursday morning.  The pair were back outbound for the lake later in the evening.  Alpena was inbound early Thursday afternoon, calling on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.  She was expected to be outbound after unloading, sometime early on Friday.

Alpena unloading at the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville

Zeus - Robert F. Deegan unloading at the Port Fisher dock

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Total Saginaw River Passages - July 2016

Commercial vessel traffic was down for the month of July, with only 10 commercial vessel deliveries on the Saginaw River. This represents nine fewer passages than July of 2015, and six fewer than the five year average of 16. For the year to date, there have been a total of 48 commercial vessel deliveries to Saginaw River docks. This is down sixteen passages from the same time period in 2015 and is nine fewer than the five year average.

Saginaw River Passages - August 1st

To start the month of August, there were two commercial deliveries to the Saginaw River. Monday morning saw the arrival of the H Lee White, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. After unloading, she was outbound for the lake during the late afternoon. A short time later, the tug Dorothy Ann, and her self unloading barge, Pathfinder, were inbound with a split cargo. The pair dropped part of their load at the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City, then continued upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw. Dorothy Ann - Pathfinder were outbound early Tuesday morning.

Saginaw River Passages - July 23rd to July 30th

American Century called on the Saginaw River for the first time in 2016, arriving on Saturday, July 23rd, and unloading coal at the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville.  On July 25th, Manitowoc was back, unloading a cargo at the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw.  On July 26th, the tug Kimberly Anne, along with a spud barge/mud scow, arrived on the Saginaw River.  The pair tied up for the night just off the Bay Aggregates slip, then moved out into the Saginaw Bay, near the mouth of the Kawkawlin River to work.

Saginaw River Passage - July 21st

Manitowoc was inbound on the Saginaw River, Thursday evening, calling on the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City. After unloading Sugar Stone, she turned off the dock and was outbound for the lake.

Manitowoc unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City

Tall Ships 2016 - Bay City, Michigan

The following are some of my favorite photos that I took during the 2016 Tall Ship Festival here in Bay City:

Saginaw River Passages - July 17th to 19th

The Saginaw River has had three commercial deliveries in the past few days. Alpena called on the Lafarge Cement Dock in Essexville, arriving early Sunday morning. She was followed by the tug Defiance, and her self unloading barge, Ashtabula, who called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City. Tuesday morning saw the arrival of Mississagi, bringing in a split cargo for the Wirt Sand and Stone dock in Essexville and the Buena Vista Dock in Saginaw.

Mississagi inbound on the Saginaw River just above Cheboyganing Creek

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Saginaw River Passage - July 6th

Inbound on the Saginaw River Wednesday morning, the tug Undaunted, and her self unloading barge, Pere Marquette 41, called on the Port Fisher - Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The pair finished their unload later in the day and were back outbound for the lake.

Saginaw River June Vessel Passages

For the month of June, there were 20 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  This is identical to June of 2015, and it is one passage above the five year average of 19.  For the total number of vessel passages year to date, there have been 38.  This is 7 less than the 45 recorded during the same time period last year, and it is two below the five year overage of 40 vessel passages.

Saginaw River Passage - June 30th

Algoway was inbound on the Saginaw River Thursday, unloading at the Buena Vista Dock in Saginaw.  She was back outbound for the lake Friday morning.