Saginaw River Passages - July 31st to August 2nd

Robert S. Pierson called on the Saginaw River on Thursday, traveling up to the GM Dock in Saginaw to unload.  The Pierson was outbound late that evening.  Manitowoc was inbound on Friday, unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City.  When finished, she turned off the dock in the Wirt Basin and was outbound for the lake early Saturday morning.  A pair of American Steamship Company vessels were inbound on Saturday, with the Sam Laud unloading at the Bay Aggregates Dock in Bay City and the John J. Boland unloading at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville.  Both vessels were outbound later in the day.  ASC vessels rarely call on the Saginaw River these days, so it was unusual the see two here at the same time.

Vessel Passages for the month of July totaled 16.  This is two less compared to July of 2013.  For the year to date, there have been 41 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River, 22 less than the same time period last year.  Looking at the five year averages, July was down one from the average of 17.  Year to date numbers for the 2014 season show a decrease of 11 commercial vessel passages from the five year average of 52.  Where the numbers really tell a story is looking back at the ten year average.  2014 is 24 passages down from the 10-year and a whopping 50 passages down year to date.  In 2005, there were 173 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River by July 31st, compared to only 41 in July 2014.

Manitowoc inbound at Smith Park in Essexville

 

Saginaw River Passages - July 26th to July 30th

After unloading at the Bay Aggregates and Buena Vista docks on Saturday, the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were back on the Saginaw River again Tuesday with a cargo for the Lafarge Stone dock in Saginaw.  The pair stopped in Bay City at the Wirt Stone dock for a number of hours before heading upriver to unload, however.  A work truck and trailer were seen along side, as well as a diver in the water.  The reason why is unknown.  The pair were outbound for the lake early Wednesday morning.

Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber outbound at the Bay City Boat Lines Dock

Causley Marine Contracting working at the Skipper Bud's Marina

Tug Barbara Merry Busch on the Saginaw River

Built in my hometown, Bay City, MI in 1938, at Defoe Shipbuilding and launched as the Thomas E. Moran, this fine tug has had many names over the years. She currently rests at the Busch Marine Dock in Carrollton, along the banks of the Saginaw River. She has sat idle here for a number of years bearing the name BARBARA MERRY BUSCH. Photos taken July 23, 2014

On the Stern shot,  old names from a previous owners are visible on the stern. Statesboro from Zenith Tugboat Company, and Sharon Elizabeth from McAllister Towing

Saginaw River Passages - July 21st - July 23rd

The tug Olive L. Moore, with the barge, Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Saginaw River with a split cargo on Monday.  The pair dropped part of their cargo at the Wirt Stone Dock in Bay City, before heading upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone Dock in Saginaw.  Wednesday morning saw the arrival of the tug Undaunted and barge Pere Marquette 41.  The pair called on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload, and were outbound for the lake later in the afternoon.

Saginaw River Passages - July 15th - July 18th

In the last week on the Saginaw River, there have been four commercial vessel passages.  Mississagi was inbound on Tuesday, calling on the Wirt Sand and Stone dock in Essexville to unload.  Friday saw the arrival of three vessels.  The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber arrived with a cargo for the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  Algoway traveled to the upper Saginaw River to deliver the first salt cargo of the season to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee, and the G.L. Ostrander - Integrity called on the Lafarge Cement dock in Essexville.

Algoway inbound on the Saginaw River nearing the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee

Olive L. Moore out of the notch of the Lewis J. Kuber in the Bay Aggregates Slip

Saginaw River Passages - July 9th

After spending the night at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville, 
Manitowoc proceeded upriver Tuesday morning, stopping at the GM dock in 
Saginaw to unload.  Manitowoc was outbound from the Saginaw River early Wednesday afternoon after unloading at the GM Dock in Saginaw.  Inbound Wednesday evening was the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber, calling on the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City to unload.

Manitowoc outbound from the Saginaw River at Cass Avenue

Stern view at Lafayette Bridge

Saginaw River Passages - July 7th

The tug Zeus and her tank barge, Robert F. Deegan, called on the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City on Sunday.  The pier completed their unload and were outbound for the lake Monday afternoon.  Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound on the Saginaw River early Monday morning, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The pair were back outbound later in the afternoon.  Manitowoc entered the Saginaw River Monday afternoon, tying up at the Burroughs North Dock in Essexville.  She did not immediately put out her boom and it was still in the cradle hours after arriving.

Olive L. Moore out of the notch of the Lewis J. Kuber in the Bay Aggregates slip

Unloading at Bay Aggregates

Zeus - Robert F. Deegan at the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City

Manitowoc inbound on the Saginaw River at the Front Range

Tied up at the Burroughs North dock in Essexville

Stern view