Saginaw River Report - November 2023

There were a total of 20 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River during the month of November 2023, with 12 different docks receiving 27 separate deliveries of product, accounting for split cargos that are delivered to more than one dock. This represents two fewer passages than last year during November 2022, but it is more than the 5-year average of 19 passages, as well as the 10-year and 15-year averages of 16 vessel passages for the month of November.

For the total number of commercial vessel passages for the year-to-date, there have been 156. This number is 17 fewer than the total from last year at this point when there were 173 deliveries. Looking at the averages, it is a decrease compared to the 5-year average of 168 total passages, but it is an increase over the 10-year average of 144 passages, and the 15-year average of 141 vessel passages.

Saginaw River Passage - November 28, 2023

Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder inbound on the Saginaw River Tuesday morning, carrying a split cargo for the Wirt Stone Docks in Bay City and Saginaw. I little ice along the edges of the Saginaw River. I am guessing if it hadn't been so windy, she would have been skimmed over this morning.

Saginaw River Passage - November 23, 2023 - Part 2

Here are the shots from the air as Northern Venture dropped her lines at Saginaw Asphalt/BVD and continued up the Saginaw River for the GM Dock on November 23rd.

Saginaw River Passage - November 23, 2023 - Part 1

On November 23rd, Norther Venture made her first ever visit to the Saginaw River, delivering a split cargo to the Saginaw Asphalt/Buena Vista dock and the GM Dock in Saginaw. She was back outbound later in the afternoon.

While we have received deliveries on the Saginaw River in the past from McKeil Marine, they have been by tug/barge combinations. Northern Venture is the first self-unloading vessel in the Mckeil Marine fleet. Built in 1998 to carry cement clinker, M/V Da Shen was purchased by McKeil in 2022, renamed, then retrofitted with a new self-unloading boom, modified and upgraded for use on the Great Lakes. A number of people have asked why she is listed as a "cement carrier" on Marine Traffic. Her past history as a cement clinker carrier is the reason. Her new role just has not been updated on ship tracking systems yet.

Saginaw River Passage - November 18, 2023

Minervagracht departed the Port Fisher Terminals Dock on Saturday morning with the assistance of the tug North Dakota. Once spun around, she was outbound on the Saginaw River for the lake, less than 24 hours after arriving.

Saginaw River Passage - November 17, 2023 - Part 2

Minervagracht inbound on the Saginaw River, headed to the Port Fisher Terminals Dock in Bay City. She was assisted by the tug North Dakota.