Saginaw River Images: April 2026

Monday, April 6, 2026

Port Gypsum - April 6, 2026: Calumet

Calumet arrived off Port Gypsum in Tawas, Monday morning, and waited offshore for the tug Kimberly Joy to arrive from Cheboygan and set the channel buoys for the season. Once Kimberly Joy arrived a short time after Calumet, her crew made quick work of setting the aids to navigation and Calumet was able to tie up before 10:00, marking the first arrival of the season to load at Port Gypsum.

While not the Saginaw River, it was a nice alternative while waiting for the first boat to visit the Saginaw River for the season.

Saginaw River Passage - April 2, 2026: North Dakota

North Dakota, starting her fourth season on the Saginaw River, heading upbound for her home dock in Carrollton, Thursday afternoon. She had traveled down the river to the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville early this morning to assist Iver Bright up to and into the Port Fisher slip to unload at Bit-Mat, but Iver Bright ended up going to anchor in Saginaw Bay near Light 1, waiting for the Saginaw River outflow/current to subside and North Dakota was not needed today.

First photos of the 2026 season!

Following the boats of the Saginaw River and Great Lakes

Here is a little background on my history with the boats: I have been an avid photographer and follower of the big lake freighters that carry their cargoes between the ports of the Great Lakes. During that time, a number of my photos have been used by various shipping companies and in publications from the U.S. Coast Guard, Lake Carriers Association, the Marine Legal Review, and in the annual boatwatchers bible, "Know Your Ships". I also report news and vessel passage information from the Saginaw River to both Boatnerd.com and to the local newspaper, The Bay City Times, and have been fortunate enough to have had the honor of being aboard and taking a trip on a Great Lakes Freighter. I am also a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner, Captain and deckhand for the Bay City Boat Lines, and a Deckhand for Malcom Marine, Inc.

In this blog, you will see information on the vessels that ply the waters of the Saginaw River, photos, and vessel passage information. I hope that you will enjoy what is posted here.