Saginaw River Passage - November 19th

American Century arrived at the front range of the Saginaw River, late Tuesday morning.  She called on the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville, unloading her cargo of coal through the day.  The American Century was expected to back from the dock, turn at Light 12 and be outbound for the lake, late Tuesday evening.

American Century inbound at the Saginaw River Front Range

Another view

Wide view nearing the coal pile at Consumers Energy

Saginaw River Passages - November 17th

Calumet arrived on Saturday morning, calling on the Burroughs North dock in Essexville, to unload.  She was followed a short time later by the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber, who traveled upriver to unload at the Saginaw Wirt Stone dock.  Both were able to finish unloading and make it out of the Saginaw River before the storm front came in and high southerly winds dropped water levels to an unsafe level.

Saginaw River Passage - November 14th

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw River on Thursday, carrying a split cargo for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  There pair were expected to be outbound late Thursday night.  The U.S.C.G. Cutter Hollyhock was busy working AToN during the day Thursday, placing winter buoys in the Saginaw River Entrance Channel.

Saginaw River Passages - November 9th & 10th

Manistee called on the Saginaw River early Saturday morning, traveling up to the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw to unload.  The tug Spartan and barge Spartan II were also inbound, calling on the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City.  Manistee was outbound late Saturday night, while Spartan - Spartan II was outbound Sunday afternoon.  Sunday evening, Saginaw departed the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City and headed for the lake.  Saginaw was brought into the Saginaw River on Wednesday, towed by the tug Manitou.  With repairs completed, Saginaw is on her way to her original destination.

Saginaw River Passage - November 6th

The tug Manitou was inbound for the Saginaw River this afternoon towing the M/V Saginaw close behind, dead ship.  Saginaw experienced mechanical issues and was towed to the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City for repairs.  The Captain of the tug Manitou effortlessly maneuvered Saginaw into the narrow slip at Bay Aggregates around 2pm this afternoon.  It is hoped she will be repaired and headed for the lakes before the weekend is over.  Saginaw has a cargo of wheat on board.

Manitou towing Saginaw at the Front Range, inbound for Bay City

Stern view passing the Consumers Energy power plant in Essexville

One of my favorite tugs - Manitou

Saginaw River Passages - November 5th

American Century arrived on the Saginaw River, early Tuesday morning, to unload coal at the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville.  She backed from the during the late afternoon, turned at Light 12 and was headed outbound for the lake.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were also inbound on Tuesday, heading upbound for Zilwaukee.  The pair were outbound from the Burroughs dock early in the evening.

Just to add more information about the visit from the saltie, Elevit, on Sunday, while she was tied up at the Dow Chemical dock, she was actually unloading her cargo to a new fertilizer facility.  Known as the Port Fisher Fertilizer dock, this was the first cargo delivered there by water, instead of rail.  Fisher is also the parent company of the Bay Aggregates dock, which is located right next to the new fertilizer facility.  There is another cargo expected here during November.


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Todd Shorkey

Saginaw River Passages - November 3rd

The Saginaw River welcomed its first salt water vessel in four years on Sunday Morning, with the arrival of the tanker, Elevit.  Assisted by the tug Gregory J. Busch, Elevit called on the Dow Chemical dock in Essexville.  Alpena was inbound Sunday evening, calling on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexvillle to unload.  Both vessels were expected to be outbound on Monday.

The last saltie to call on the Saginaw River was the OXL Lotus, on July 5, 2009.  She didn't sctually make it to the river, but rather anchored out in Saginaw Bay, with the tug Gregory J. Busch and barge STC 2004 making seven trips between the her and the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload the cargo.  Before that, the Onego Merchant was the last saltie to actually travel up the Saginaw River, arriving on June 22, 2006, to unload totes of granulated sugar at the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee for Michigan Sugar Company.

Elevit inbound at Smith Park in Essexville with the tug Gregory J. Busch trailing behind.
Thank you to Patrick Caauwe for allowing me to use his great photo