Saginaw River Passage - November 27, 2024: Robert S. Pierson

After spending nearly 24 hours anchored out in Saginaw Bay near Light 1 of the Entrance Channel due to weather conditions, Robert S. Pierson was inbound on the Saginaw River this morning, entering the slip at Port Fisher to unload for Bay Aggregates.  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder, who had been waiting on weather at the Burroughs North - GM Dock in Saginaw after unloading coal there, were also able to turn around this morning and head outbound for the lake.

Saginaw River Passage - November 24, 2024: Saginaw - Part 2 of 3

This next set of photos show Saginaw upbound on the Saginaw River off Wheeler's Landing, approaching the Huron & Eastern Railway Bridge, Liberty Bridge and Downtown Bay City nearing Veteran's Memorial Bridge.

Saginaw River Passage - November 26, 2024: Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder

Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder on the Saginaw River, tied up at the Burroughs North - GM Coal Dock in Saginaw. The pair unloaded there overnight and is now waiting on weather to depart. Winds have been gusting out of the west at over 30 knots. Robert S. Pierson is out in Saginaw Bay at Light 1, presumably waiting the the winds to go down and water levels to come back up. You can also see in the photos the tugs Gregory J. Busch and Barbara Merry Busch, tied up at the Busch Marine home dock.

Saginaw River Passage - November 24, 2024: Saginaw - Part 1 of 3

Saginaw made her second visit of the season to her namesake river on Sunday, heading to the upper river with a split cargo for the ACE/Saginaw Asphalt - Crow Island Dock and the Burroughs North - 1st Street Dock in Saginaw.  She finished her unload and was back outbound for the lake overnight.  This first set of photos shows Saginaw inbound passing through Essexville between the Essexville Range Lights and Smith Park.  Stay turned for Part 2.

Saginaw River Passage - November 24, 2024: Sharon M I / Huron Spirit

Sharon M I - Huron Spirit on the Saginaw River, backed into the slip at Port Fisher finishing up an unload for Bay Aggregates. on another damp, grey morning.

Saginaw River Passage - November 23, 2024: Manitowoc

Manitowoc outbound on the Saginaw River after delivering a split cargo to the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City and the Burroughs North -1st Street Dock in Saginaw. I chose this location to photograph Manitowoc as in one week, Lafayette Bridge will close to both shipping traffic and vehicle traffic. It will be torn down and then rebuilt over the next few years, so it was important to get a few last historical photos. Lafayette Bridge was opened in 1936.

You can see the staging area for equipment and supplies just south of the bridge on the Middlegrounds. Beginning December 15th, a cofferdam will be installed around the bridge piers to facilitate removal of the old bridge and construction of the new one. This cofferdam, while in place, will decrease the width of the navigation channel by two feet on each side for the next few shipping seasons. After the December 1st closure to shipping traffic, Lafayette Bridge is scheduled to reopen in the spring to vessel traffic on March 31, 2025. The same as Independence Bridge was closed last winter. The rush has been on the fully stock the Saginaw Area docks before the closure.