Saginaw River Passage - October 30, 2026: Gregoty J. Busch, Barbara Merry Busch, & Edwin C. Busch

Every fall, I make a flight over the Busch Marine tugs, on the Saginaw River, at the Carrollton Bar, just to see how they are resting on the Saginaw River compared to previous years.  I took these photos on Friday, October 30th, 2026, and there really is no change from last year other than the area being a little more overgrown.  Before the comments and questions start like they do every time I post these photos, The tugs, Gregory J. Busch, Barbara Merry Busch, and Edwin C. Busch are tied up where they always were when Busch Marine was still operating.  This is their "dock".  I would not consider them "abandoned".  This is just where the owner has them tied up and if the right offer came along, I am sure he would sell them.  If there was any environmental contamination going on, I am confident the U.S. Coast Guard and EGLE would have taken action.  The situation is similar to Islander being tied up at Scotty's Sand Bar and not moving since June 5, 2022, when she was tied up there, other than that Barbara Merry Busch is obviously resting on the bottom.  I know others will have differing opinions from mine on this, and that is fine.  Photos taken 10/30/26.