Saginaw River Passage - December 12, 2024: Mark W. Barker

Mark W. Barker made a late season visit to the Saginaw River, backing into the slip at Port Fisher to unload for Bay Aggregates.

Road Trip - Port Gypsum, Tawas City - December 10, 2024: Sam Laud

Bucket List Item - CHECK!

Earlier this year, I was able to photograph Alpena coming into the Lafarge Dock in Alpena and docking to load.  I had always wanted to do that.  I have also always wanted to photograph a boat loading at Port Gypsum in Tawas City.  Today, I was able to do that.  It was an absolutely beautiful morning, no wind and Lake Huron/Tawas Bay as smooth as could be.  Definitely worth the drive for sure!

Saginaw River Passage - December 9, 2024: Alpena

Alpena on the Saginaw River, showing off her holiday spirit while unloading at the Holcim Cement Dock in Essexville.

Saginaw River Passage - December 9, 2024: Alpena

Alpena was inbound on the Saginaw River this morning, calling on the Holcim Cement dock in Essexville to unload.  

Saginaw River Passage - December 8, 2024: American Courage

American Courage was inbound on the Saginaw River Sunday morning, making the turn into the Port Fisher Slip to unload for Bay Aggregates.  She had spent the night anchored out on Saginaw Bay due to strong winds, before coming in this morning.

Saginaw River Report - November 2024

There were a total of 27 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River during the month of November 2024, with 13 different docks receiving 40 separate deliveries of product, accounting for split cargos delivered to more than one dock.  This represents seven more vessel passages than recorded during November 2023, and it is more than all of the long term averages, with the 5-year average at 21 passages for November, the 10-year average at 18 passages, the 15-year average at 17 passages, and the 20-year average of 19 commercial vessel passages for the month of November.

For the total number of commercial vessel passages for the year-to-date, there have been 189.  This is 33 more passages than last year at this point.  Looking at the averages, the 189 passages for the year to date are more than the 5-year average of 173, the 10-year average of 152 passages, the 15-year average of 144 passages, and the 20-year average of 167 vessel passages.

During the month of November, there were 22 deliveries to the docks on the lower half of the Saginaw River, located in Essexville and Bay City, and 18 deliveries to upper river docks, located in Zilwaukee, Carrollton, and Saginaw.  Thirteen vessels carried split loads with cargo unloaded at more than one dock.  Ryba Marine Construction finished maintenance dredging operations on the Saginaw River on November 15, with three tugs and all of their equipment departing on that day.

Saginaw River Passage - December 2, 2024: Samuel de Champlain/Innovation

Samuel de Champlain/Innovation on the Saginaw River, arriving at the Holcim Cement dock in Essexville at sunrise this morning to unload. Even though the upper river docks are done receiving product for the season due to Independence and Lafayette Bridges being "closed to masted navigation" until March 31, 2025, the lower river docks are still receiving product.