Saginaw River Images

Sunday, April 12, 2026

St. Clair River - April 11, 2026: Radcliffe R. Latimer

Radcliffe R. Latimer upbound on the St. Clair River near Algonac State Park. April 11, 2026

St. Clair River - April 11, 2026: Mesabi Miner

Still waiting for Alpena, who is at anchor on Saginaw Bay at Light 1. In the meantime, here are some photos from my trip to the St. Clair River yesterday: I was set up to launch the drone and catch Mesabi Miner near Algonac State Park on Saturday morning. When she came around to corner, to my surprise a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin was hovering above her! So, the drone was out of play, and I had to grab the DSLR camera for some shots of the action. While I was disappointed that I didn't get the aerial shots of Mesabi Miner I wanted, it was cool to catch the evolution with the U.S. Coast Guard helo.

Monday, April 6, 2026

Port Gypsum - April 6, 2026: Calumet

Calumet arrived off Port Gypsum in Tawas, Monday morning, and waited offshore for the tug Kimberly Joy to arrive from Cheboygan and set the channel buoys for the season. Once Kimberly Joy arrived a short time after Calumet, her crew made quick work of setting the aids to navigation and Calumet was able to tie up before 10:00, marking the first arrival of the season to load at Port Gypsum.

While not the Saginaw River, it was a nice alternative while waiting for the first boat to visit the Saginaw River for the season.

Saginaw River Passage - April 2, 2026: North Dakota

North Dakota, starting her fourth season on the Saginaw River, heading upbound for her home dock in Carrollton, Thursday afternoon. She had traveled down the river to the Consumers Energy Dock in Essexville early this morning to assist Iver Bright up to and into the Port Fisher slip to unload at Bit-Mat, but Iver Bright ended up going to anchor in Saginaw Bay near Light 1, waiting for the Saginaw River outflow/current to subside and North Dakota was not needed today.

First photos of the 2026 season!

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse

As we patiently wait for the start of the 2026 shipping season, here are a few shots of the Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse that I took on 3/2/26. The snow is gone, but there is still ice on the Saginaw River.

Following the boats of the Saginaw River and Great Lakes

Here is a little background on my history with the boats: I have been an avid photographer and follower of the big lake freighters that carry their cargoes between the ports of the Great Lakes. During that time, a number of my photos have been used by various shipping companies and in publications from the U.S. Coast Guard, Lake Carriers Association, the Marine Legal Review, and in the annual boatwatchers bible, "Know Your Ships". I also report news and vessel passage information from the Saginaw River to both Boatnerd.com and to the local newspaper, The Bay City Times, and have been fortunate enough to have had the honor of being aboard and taking a trip on a Great Lakes Freighter. I am also a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner, Captain and deckhand for the Bay City Boat Lines, and a Deckhand for Malcom Marine, Inc.

In this blog, you will see information on the vessels that ply the waters of the Saginaw River, photos, and vessel passage information. I hope that you will enjoy what is posted here.