Saginaw River Vessel Passage - March 27th

The U.S.C.G. Cutter Hollyhock arrived on the Saginaw Bay overnight and was working Aids to Navigation along the Entrance Channel during the morning hours Tuesday. There has been movement aboard Ryba Marine's tug, Kathy Lynn, the past few days. The tug and a number of Ryba's dredging fleet spent the winter on the Saginaw River, tucked away in the old Defoe Shipbuilding slip near Liberty Bridge.

Tug Kathy Lynn at the old Defoe Shipbuilding Slip

Busch Marine Tugs Statesboro and Edwin C. Busch

Joyce L. Van Enkevort - Great Lakes Trader

Onboard the Joyce L. - Great Lakes Trader: This photo shows the hold, gates, and sugar stone cargo being offloaded at Bay City Wirt in 2004

Joyce L. Van Enkevort - Great Lakes Trader

This is from my 2004 trip aboard the Joyce L. Van Enkevort - Great Lakes Trader. Here the pair is squeezing through the Central Michigan Rail Bridge, Liberty Bridge combo. Very impressive ship handling!

J.A.W. Iglehart

This is one of my favorite shots of the J.A.W. Iglehart, and the choice for my page header for the 2012 shipping season. While she used to be a frequent visitor to the Saginaw River, she has not been used for cement delivery since October 29th, 2006. The Iglehart is currently is use as a cement storage/transfer vessel in Superior, WI.

The photo was taken in the 2004 season, I believe. She is seen upbound at Cass Avenue headed up to the Lafarge Cement terminal in Carrollton.

Louis R. Desmarais

Completed in 1977, the Louis R. Desmarais entered service for Canada Steamship Lines, working under that name until 2001. Her stern section was then removed from her forebody, which was then scrapped. The Desmarais stern section was then mated with a newly built forebody and renamed the CSL Laurentien.
The Louis R. Desmarais would deliver cement clinker to the Essroc Dock in Essexville, here on the Saginaw River.

Joseph H. Frantz

The following photos were taken in September of 1986. The Frantz was attempting to get through the Independence Bridge and to the Bay City Wirt Dock when she was caught by strong river currents from heavy recent rain. The Frantz became wedged against the northern abutment and remained there for three days until the Malcolm Marine tugs "Malcolm" and "Barbara Ann" arrived to straighten her out and free her from the current.

Myron C. Taylor

Here are a few shots of the Myron C. Taylor from back in the mid 1980's. They are not the best photos, but I found them interesting. The 1984 Camaro Z-28 in the one photo is my parent's car and the Taylor is passing the Consumers Power Dock in Essexville. The other photo shows the Taylor at the Front Range.