Saginaw River Passage - December 23, 2024: G.L. Ostrander/Integrity

The 2024 shipping season continues on the Saginaw River, the the arrival of the G.L. Ostrander/Integrity this morning.  The pair broke through the ice, having to back and ram a few times,  before making it to the Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville to unload.

Saginaw River 2024 Season Recap: March 2024

Saginaw River Sunday!

Time to start the weekly the "Year in Review" for the 2024 shipping season, featuring some of my favorite photos from each month, information on the season, and anything noteworthy. Starting with March 2024, the Saginaw River saw the first two vessels of the season. The first to arrive was Samuel de Champlain/Innovation on March 19th, but they were not here for the first delivery. The pair arrived at the Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville for some repairs and were assisted to the dock by the tug North Dakota. The first and only delivery for March came five days later when Candace Elise/Robert F. Deegan arrived at the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City to unload liquid calcium chloride for Occidental Chemical.

Saginaw River Passage - December 15, 2024: Algoma Innovator

Algoma Innovator arrived on the Saginaw River Sunday morning, calling on the Wirt Sand & Stone Fertilizer Dock in Essexville to unload.  Once finished, she turned off the dock in the Essexville Turning Basin and was back outbound for the lake. 

Saginaw River Passage - December 14, 2024: Mark W. Barker

Mark W. Barker, breaking her way out of the Saginaw River from the Port Fisher Slip, after unloading for the Bay Aggregates Dock.  It was slow going and took some backing and ramming, but Mark W. Barker was able to clear the ice in Saginaw River and Bay unassisted.

Saginaw River Passage - December 13, 2024: Mark W. Barker

Here are some photos of Mark W. Barker in the slip at Port Fisher in Bay City on Friday, December 13th, before busting out of the Saginaw River the next morning.

Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2024: Mark W. Barker

Mark W. Barker made a late season visit to the Saginaw River, backing into the slip at Port Fisher to unload for Bay Aggregates.