September 1, 2010

Calumet was inbound the Saginaw River, Wednesday afternoon, carrying a 
split load.  She stopped at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock to lighter, 
then continued upriver to the Saginaw Wirt Stone dock to finish.  
Calumet was expected to be outbound early Thursday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 29, 2010

There were numerous vessels transiting the Saginaw River the past week.  
On Tuesday, Calumet called with a split cargo for the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee and GM dock in Saginaw.  Also in on Tuesday were the tug 
Gregory J. Busch and her deck barge, calling on the Bay Aggregates dock 
in Bay City and Algorail, who called on the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.

Wednesday saw the tug Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber arrive with 
a split load for the Bay Aggregates dock and the Buena Vista dock in 
Saginaw.

Thursday saw the steamer Alpena depart from the Lafarge dock in Carrollton 
and head for the lake.  She had arrived on August 20th and remained there until her departure on the 26th.

On Friday, the tug Zeus and her tank barge called on the Bit-Mat Asphalt 
dock in Bay City.

Saturday saw the return of the Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber with 
another split load, this time for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone 
docks, as well as the Indiana Harbor, who called on the Consumers Energy 
dock in Essexville.

Finally, Sunday saw Manistee call on the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.  
This was her first visit to the Saginaw River this season.  Manistee 
was headed for the Sixth Street Basin to turn and head for the lake 
late Sunday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 21, 2010

The Algoway was inbound the Saginaw River Saturday morning, bound 
for the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.  She completed her unload and was 
outbound for the lake during the late afternoon.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 20, 2010

Manitowoc was outbound the Saginaw River early Friday morning after 
finishing her unload at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City.  The tug 
Joe Thompson, Jr. and barge Joseph H. Thompson were inbound Friday 
afternoon with Sugar Stone for the Bay City Wirt dock.  The pair 
completed their unload late in the evening, turned off the dock, 
and headed for the lake.  Alpena was inbound Friday evening, headed 
upriver to the Lafarge Cement dock in Carrollton to unload.  She was 
expected to be outbound Saturday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 19, 2010

The Manitowoc called on the Saginaw River, Thursday evening, 
traveling the short distance upriver to the Bay Aggregates dock 
in Bay City.  She was unloading there at 10:30pm and expected to 
be outbound late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 15, 2010

The Olive L. Moore, with the Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Saginaw 
River Saturday with a split load.  The pair lightered at the Bay City 
Wirt dock before continuing upriver to the saginaw Wirt dock to 
finish.  The Moore and Kuber were then outbound for the lake Sunday 
morning.

August 13, 2010

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound the Saginaw River 
on Wednesday with a split cargo for the Essexville Lafarge dock and 
the Zilwaukee Sargent dock. The pair were outbound Thursday morning.
 
Mississagi was Inbound on Thursday,calling on the Buena Vista dock 
in Saginaw. She was outbound later in the day.

Calumet was inbound Friday afternoon, calling on the GM dock in 
Saginaw. She was expected to be outbound early Saturday morning. 
Indiana Harbor called on the Consumers Energy dock very early 
Saturday morning to unload. She was expected to be outbound later 
in the morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 10, 2010

The tug Undaunted, with the barge Pere Marquette 41, finished unloading 
at the Saginaw Wirt dock then went up to the Sixth Street Basin to turn 
and head outbound.  In an unusual twist, the pair stopped at the Sargent 
sand dock and loaded a cargo of sand for her outbound trip.  Very rarely 
does a vessel take on a cargo at a Saginaw River dock.  Once loaded, the 
pair were outbound for the lake on Tuesday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 9, 2010

The tug Undaunted, with the Pere Marquette 41, was inbound the Saginaw 
River on Monday afternoon, headed for the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw 
to unload.  The pair were expected to be outbound early Tuesday 
morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 8, 2010

The tug Karen Andrie, pushing the tank barge Endeavour, called on the 
Bit-Mat dock in Bay City on Saturday to unload.  Once finished, the 
pair were outbound for the lake on Sunday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

August 6, 2010

It has been fairly active on the Saginaw River the past few days, 
with first of the season visits by the tug G.L. Ostrander - barge 
Integrity and tug Dorothy Ann - barge Pathfinder on Thursday, and 
Calumet's seventh visit of the season on Friday.  The Ostrander/Integrity
 called on the Lafarge cement dock in Carrollton during the morning 
on Thursday.  The pair were outbound early Friday morning.  Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder were inbound during the morning on Thursday as well, 
and were outbound during the early evening hours.  Calumet arrived 
with a split cargo on Friday evening, lightering at the Lafarge dock 
in Essexville, then continuing upriver to finish at the Lafarge dock 
in Saginaw.  She was expected to be outbound Saturday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 31, 2010

The tug Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber called on the 
Saginaw River Saturday morning, carrying a split cargo.  The pair 
lightered at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City, then continued 
upriver to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to finish.  The pair were 
outbound late Saturday evening.
 
For the month of July, there were 14 commercial vessel passages on 
the Saginaw River, a decrease of eight from the same period last year 
and 15 passages below the six year average of 29.  For the year to date, 
there have been 63 commercial vessel passages on the Saginaw River.  
This number is down 15 from the same time period last year.  Looking at 
the six year average is where you really see the difference. There are 
50 less passage then the average of 113 and a huge 110 less then the 
2005 shipping season when there were 173 passages at this point in the 
season.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 26, 2010

On Monday July 19th, the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber called on the 
Saginaw River with a split load. The pair lightered at the Bay Aggregates 
dock in Bay City before continuing upriver to finish unloading at the 
Wirt stone dock in Saginaw. On Saturday July 24th, Manitowoc called on 
the Wirt stone dock in Saginaw to unload. 

Manitowoc was back again on Monday morning, arriving with a split load 
for the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee and the GM dock in Saginaw.  She 
completed her unload and was outbound through Bay City during the evening.  Indiana Harbor was also inbound Monday morning, calling on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload.  Once finished, she backed from the 
dock and headed out for the Saginaw Bay to turned around and make way for 
the lake.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 17, 2010

The tug Olive L. Moore, with the barge Lewis J. Kuber, called on the 
Saginaw River Friday evening, stopping at the Wirt Sand and Stone dock 
in Essexville to unload.  The pair were then back outbound for the 
lake Saturday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 15, 2010

The Saginaw River was chaotic on Thursday.  Between the arrival of 
the tall ship fleet and two commercial vessel passages, it was a 
stressful day for many vessel masters.  The Tall Ship Celebration 
"Parade of Sail" began out in the Saginaw Bay early in the afternoon 
on Thursday.  During the fleet's parade into the river, Algoway was 
outbound from the Sixth Street turning basin after unloading at the 
Sargent dock in Zilwaukee overnight.  She started meeting tall ships 
between Veteran's Memorial and Liberty bridges and passed her last 
ones near the Dow Chemical dock downriver.  Inbound Thursday evening 
was the tug Zeus and tank barge Robert F. Deegan, calling on the Dow 
Chemical dock in Bay City to unload.  The pair were expected to be 
outbound early on Friday.
 
The tall ships in port for the Tall Ship Challenge are: Madeline, 
Pathfinder, Playfair, Lynx, Denis Sullivan, Pride of Baltimore II, 
Roseway, Roald Amundsen, HMS Bounty, Europa, Appledore IV, and the 
Appledore V.  The tall ships will remain in Bay City through Sunday.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 14, 2010

The Indiana Harbor was inbound Wednesday morning calling on the 
Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal.  She completed 
her unload Wednesday evening, backed out into the Saginaw Bay to 
turn and headed for the lake.  Algoway was inbound Wednesday evening, 
passing Indiana Harbor near Lights 11 & 12, on her way upriver to 
unload at the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee.  She was expected to be 
outbound on Thursday.

The tall ship fleet began to arrive in the Downtown Bay City Area 
on Wednesday, with Lynx and Dennis Sullivan both tying up at the 
docks.  Out in the Saginaw Bay were Bounty, Pride of Baltimore 2, 
and Europa, who were on the move toward the Saginaw River.  The 
forecast of severe weather for this area played a part in the 
decision of some of the tall ship fleet to dock in Bay City early.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 12, 2010

With no commercial traffic on the Saginaw River since July 4th, the streak 
was snapped at seven days, when the tug Barbara Andrie and her tank barge called on the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City. Arriving on Sunday, the pair 
completed their unload and were outbound Monday afternoon, headed for the 
lake.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

July 4, 2010

There was some shipping traffic on the Saginaw River over the 
holiday weekend.  Algoway called on the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee 
late Thursday evening to unload.  She was back outbound for the lake 
on Friday, passing through Bay City late in the afternoon.  The tug 
Zeus, along with her tank barge, called on the old Dow Chemical dock, 
which is now being referred to as the "Oxy" dock.  The pair were 
outbound on Saturday.  Sunday saw the Calumet arrive with a split load.  
She lightered at the Lafarge Essexville dock before continuing upriver 
to finish at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee.  Calumet was expected to 
be outbound late Sunday night or early Monday morning.  USNSCS Greyfox departed Bay City at 6am on Sunday after spending the past week in port 
giving tours.

With more boat trading on the Great lakes in 2010 than last year and 
increases in cargo being hauled, traffic on the Saginaw River continues 
to trend downward.  There were only 18 commercial deliveries on the 
Saginaw River during the month of June.  That is six less then the same 
period in 2009, fifteen less than the average over the past six years 
and 28 less than the high over that time period, June 2005.  For the 
year to date, there have been 56 commercial cargo deliveries.  This is 
down seven from the same time period in 2009, thirty six less than the 
average over the past six years and 89 less than the high over that 
time period, June 2005.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 29, 2010

The USNCS Grey Fox called on the Saginaw River on Monday, docking in 
Downtown Bay City at the Wenonah Park dock.  The Gray Fox was brought 
to Bay City through the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum and will be 
open to visitors and for tours through July 4th.  For more information 
on the Gray Fox’s availability or to schedule a tour, call the Saginaw 
Naval Ship Museum at (989) 684-3946.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 27, 2010

Mississagi was inbound Sunday afternoon, headed all the way up to Sixth 
Street in Saginaw with a cargo for the Lafarge Stone dock.  She had to 
stop briefly at the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City to wait for the Saginaw 
River to open to vessel traffic between Liberty and Veteran's Memorial bridges.  This was due to the Bay City River Roar powerboat races that 
have been going on all weekend.  Mississagi made the dock late Sunday afternoon and was expected outbound late evening.  Walter J. McCarthy, 
Jr. called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville during the afternoon.  She completed her unload and was backing out into the Saginaw Bay to 
turn and head for the lake Sunday evening.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 25, 2010

With the upper Saginaw River dredging project coming to a close, 
crews from Ryba Marine have been busy the past few days breaking 
down their equipment and pulling dredge pipe.  Both the tug Kathy Lynn 
and tug Tenacious made two trips from the upper river on Friday, moving 
barges from the Confined Disposal Facility and the Sargent dock in 
Zilwaukee, down to the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville in preparation 
for departing the area.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 24, 2010

Calumet was inbound the Saginaw River early Thursday morning, traveling up the river to the GM dock in Saginaw to unload.  Once finished, she turned in the Sixth Street basin and was outbound for the lake late in the afternoon.  Ryba Marine's Tugs Kathy Lynn and Tenacious were both tied up with derrick barges at the confined disposal area near Cheboyganing Creek on Thursday.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 22, 2010

Monday on the Saginaw River, the tug Gregory J. Busch, pushing a deck 
barge, was outbound for the lake on her first trip of the season.  Tuesday 
saw Algorail inbound for the Buena Vista Dock in Saginaw to unload.  She 
was expected to be outbound early Wednesday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 17, 2010

The tug Barbara Andrie and tank barge A-390 called on the Bit-Mat dock in Bay City on Thursday.  The pair unloaded through the day and were outbound for the lake late Thursday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 14, 2010

Sunday evening saw the arrival of the Calumet, carrying a split cargo.  
She lightered at the Bay City Wirt stone dock before continuing upriver 
to finish unloading at the Saginaw Wirt stone dock.  Calumet was expected 
to be outbound Monday morning.  Her arrival marked third Lower Lakes Towing vessel and fourth vessel overall of the day on Sunday.  

Reported by Todd Shorkey

A number of vessels have called on the Saginaw River this weekend.  
Saturday saw the Indiana Harbor arrive with coal for the Consumers 
Energy dock in Essexville.  She completed her unload and backed out 
into the Saginaw Bay to turn early Sunday morning.  Later in the morning, 
the tug Olive L. Moore with the Lewis J. Kuber, called on the Bay 
Aggregates dock in Bay City.  As they were finishing their unload, 
Manitowoc was inbound at the Front Range, waiting for the same dock.  Manitowoc pulled just past the Bay Aggregates slip and waited for 
the Moore/Kuber to depart for the lake.  Once clear, Manitowoc backed 
into the Bay Aggregate slip to unload.  Also on Sunday, the Maumee 
was inbound, traveling upriver to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to 
unload.  This was the second time in three days she called on Burroughs 
to unload.  Maumee departed the dock to head for the Sixth Street basin 
and turn for the lake late Sunday afternoon.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 11, 2010

Maumee made her first appearance of the season Friday afternoon, traveling 
up the Saginaw River to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee.  Calumet was 
inbound Friday evening headed for the GM Dock in Saginaw.  She passed 
her outbound fleetmate, Maumee, late Friday night as she was headed for 
the lake after finishing her unload at the Burroughs dock.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 10, 2010

The CSL Tadoussac called on the Saginaw River Thursday, stopping at the 
Essroc Cement dock in Essexville to unload.  She had finished by late 
evening and back out to Light 12 in the Saginaw Bay to turn and head for 
the lake.  This was the first cargo delivered to the Essroc dock since 
August 26th of last year when the Frontenac called there, and the first 
visit by the CSL Tadoussac since December 23rd of 2008.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 6, 2010

The Olive L. Moore / Lewis J. Kuber arrived on the Saginaw River 
Saturday afternoon with a split cargo. Thge pair stopped at the 
Lafarge dock in Essexville to unload a partial cargo, then proceeded 
upriver to finish unloading at the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee. The 
Moore & Kuber were outbound for the lake Sunday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

June 1, 2010

After a slow month of May, traffic on the Saginaw River picked up a 
little to start June.  Monday evening saw the arrival of the tug 
Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber with a split load.  The pair 
lightered at the Lafarge dock in Essexville before continuing upriver 
to finish unloading at the GM dock in Saginaw.  They were outbound 
for the lake Tuesday morning.  Arriving on Tuesday were the Herbert C.
Jackson, who unloaded at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City, and the Mississagi, who traveled up to the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee to 
unload.  Both vessels were outbound Tuesday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 31, 2010

With the month of May now in the books, there were only 13 commercial 
vessel deliveries to the docks along the Saginaw River.  This is 12 
fewer than the same time period last year and well below the average 
of 30 over the past six years.

Looking at the year to date, there have been 31 vessel passages in 
2010.  This is only one less than last year, but still well below the 
six year average of 52.

April started the season strong, but this has been the worst May in 
the six years I have been keeping records.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 29, 2010

The tug Zeus and her tank barge arrived on the Saginaw River 
overnight, calling on the Dow Chemical dock in Bay City.  She 
unloaded through the day and was outbound for the lake Saturday 
evening.  Manitowoc was back on the Saginaw River Saturday afternoon, 
calling on the Wirt Stone dock in Bay City.  After lightering there, 
she continued upriver to the Wirt dock in Saginaw to finish.  Manitowoc 
was expected to be outbound Sunday morning.  The 100' luxury motor 
yacht, Sassy, called on the Bay Harbor Marina Saturday evening and 
departed for the lake a few hours later.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 28, 2010

Manitowoc arrived on the Saginaw River on Thursday with a split load.  
She stopped at the Lafarge stone dock in Essexville to lighter before continuing upriver to the Lafarge stone dock in Saginaw to finish.  
Manitowoc turned in the Sixth Street Basin Friday morning and headed 
for the lake.  On her way out, Manitowoc passed the inbound tug 
Undaunted with her barge Pere Marquette 41.  The pair, making their 
first trip to the Saginaw River in 2010, were headed up to the Wirt 
Stone Dock in Saginaw to unload.  Undaunted - Pere Marquette 41 finished 
their unload and were outbound for the lake Friday evening.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 25, 2010

Indiana Harbor arrived on Tuesday, calling on the Consumers Energy 
dock in Essexville to unload coal. She finished her unload, backed 
from the dock and turn near Light 12 before heading for the lake.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 22, 2010

Manitowoc returned early Saturday morning for her second visit in 
three days, this time calling on the Burroughs dock in Zilwaukee.  
Once unloaded, she turned in the Sixth Street basin and was outbound 
for the lake, late Saturday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 20, 2010

While the sky was blue above the Saginaw River on Thursday, the boats 
on the water were Gray.  Manitowoc was inbound Thursday morning with a 
split load.  She stopped at the Bay City Wirt dock to lighter before continuing upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt stone dock in 
Saginaw.  About 45 minutes behind Manitowoc was her fleet mate, Saginaw.  Saginaw traveled upriver to the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw to unload.  
This was the first visit of 2010 for both vessels and the first visit 
since 2006 for the Saginaw to her namesake river.  Manitowoc and Saginaw 
were both outbound was outbound Thursday evening.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 17, 2010

Over the weekend, Ryba Marine's tug, Tenacious, arrived on the Saginaw 
River with more dredging equipment and barges for the upper river 
dredging project.  On Sunday, Tenacious was moving barges from the 
Essroc Dock in Essexville, upriver to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee, 
which has been the staging area for the upper river project.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 13, 2010

After a somewhat steady April, traffic on the Saginaw River has slowed 
down so far in May.  Two vessels visited the river on Thursday however.  Indiana Harbor was inbound Thursday morning, calling on the Consumers 
Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal.  She was followed a few hours 
later by the tug Invincible and barge McKee Sons who stopped at the Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City to unload.  Indiana Harbor backed out of the 
river during the early afternoon and then turned in the Saginaw Bay at 
Light 12 before heading for the lake.  Invincible-McKee Sons were 
outbound late Thursday afternoon.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 9, 2010

After sitting at anchor in the Saginaw Bay since early Saturday morning 
due to strong winds and low water levels, that reached nearly -20 inches 
at one point, Algoway began making her trip inbound Sunday morning, bound 
for the North Star dock in Essexville to unload potash.  She was expected 
to be outbound later in the day.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 4, 2010

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber departed the Bay Aggregates dock 
early Tuesday morning after unloading and headed for the lake.  Later 
in the morning, the tug Barbara Andrie, with the barge A-390, departed 
the Dow Chemical dock, also headed for the lake.  The pair had arrived 
on April 18th and after unloading at Bit-Mat, tied up at the Dow dock, 
where they have been since.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 3, 2010

The workhorse combo of the Saginaw River, tug Olive L. Moore & barge 
Lewis J. Kuber, were back again late Monday afternoon for their seventh 
visit of the season.  The Moore & Kuber backed into the Bay Aggregates 
dock and were there unloading Monday evening.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

May 1, 2010

A trio of vessels were on the waters of the Saginaw River on Friday 
and Saturday. Two from Algoma Central Marine and one from K&K. Algoway 
was inbound on Friday, but low water levels in the river prevented her 
from going all the way up river to the Sargent dock in Zilwaukee to 
unload like planned, so she tied up at the Essroc dock in Essexville to 
wait for more favorable conditions. Algoway finally headed upriver to Zilwaukee Saturday morning.

The Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber were inbound later on Friday with 
a split load. The pair stopped at Bay City Wirt to lighter before 
continuing upriver to finish unloading at the Wirt Stone dock in Saginaw. 


The Algorail was inbound late on Friday, calling in the Buena Vista 
dock in Saginaw to unload. This was her first visit of the 2010 shipping season.

With the month of April in the books, shipping on the Saginaw River is 
looking much brighter this year than in 2009.  There were 18 commercial deliveries to Saginaw River docks this April, as compared to only 7 in 
2009.  Nine different vessels made these deliveries.  If you compare 
April's totals to the average from the past six years, you can see that 
the 18 passages are close to the average of 22.


Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 29, 2010

The tug Olive L. Moore, with the Lewis J Kuber, arrived on the Saginaw 
River Wednesday with a split cargo. The pair lightered at the Bay City 
Wirt Stone dock and then continued upriver to finish unloading at the 
Saginaw Wirt dock. The Moore and Kuber were outbound for the lake early Thursday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 24, 2010

Saturday morning on the Saginaw River saw the arrival of the Ryba Marine 
tug, Kathy Lynn, and a number of barges for the upper river dredging 
project.  Kathy Lynn made two trips upriver on Saturday, taking equipment 
up to the Sargent dock in Saginaw to prepare for the start of dredging 
in early May.  Later in the evening, the tug Joe Thompson and her barge 
Joseph H. Thompson called on the Saginaw River carrying a split load.  
The pair was lightering at the Bay City Wirt dock around 9pm, and was 
expected to be upbound for Saginaw to finish a few hours later.  The 
tug Barbara Andrie and barge A-390 remained at the Dow chemical dock.  
The pair had arrived on April 18th and unloaded at the Bit-Mat dock.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 21, 2010

After lightering, the tug Olive L. Moore and her barge, Lewis J. Kuber,
 departed the Bay Aggregates slip in Bay City on Wednesday morning and 
headed upriver to finish unloading at the Saginaw Wirt Stone dock. The 
pair were outbound for the lake late Wednesday night.

The Barbara Andrie and barge A-390 remain tied up at the Dow Chemical 
dock in Bay City.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 20, 2010

The tug Barbara Andrie and barge A-390 departed the Bit-Mat Dock 
Tuesday afternoon after arriving on Sunday to unload.  The pair moved 
a short distance upriver and tied up at the Dow Chemical dock.  This 
move was most likely to make room for the tug Olive L. Moore and barge 
Lewis J. Kuber, who arrived Tuesday evening, to have access to the 
Bay Aggregates dock.  The pair were unloading there late Tuesday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 18, 2010

Sunday saw two tug/barge units call on the Saginaw River.  First in 
was Barbara Andrie and her tank barge.  The pair called on the Bit-Mat 
Asphalt dock in Bay City to unload.  They were expected to be outbound 
early Monday morning.  Following inbound a few hours behind the Andrie 
was the Olive L. Moore - Lewis J. Kuber who made a rare delivery to 
the Essexville Wirt Sand and Stone dock.  The pair finished their unload 
and were outbound Sunday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 17, 2010

The Algoway arrived in the Saginaw Bay on Friday and went to anchor, 
waiting for the winds to subside before making her trip into the 
river. With more favorable conditions Saturday afternoon, Algoway 
entered the river and called on the North Star dock in Essexville 
to unload potash. Once finished, she turned off the dock in the 
Essexville basin and was outbound for the lake on Sunday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 16, 2010

Overnight, Calumet was back again with another split load, this time 
for the Bay City and Saginaw Wirt Stone docks.  She lightered at the 
Bay City dock early Friday morning, then continued upriver to finish 
her unload at Saginaw Wirt.  Calumet was headed back out of the Saginaw 
River, passing through Essexville, shortly before 2pm.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 14, 2010

Continuing the streak of daily traffic on the Saginaw River, Calumet 
was inbound Wednesday morning with a split load.  She stopped at the 
Lafarge stone dock in Essexville to lighter, before heading upriver 
to finish at the Lafarge stone dock in Saginaw.   These were the first 
cargos delivered to the Lafarge docks under the new ownership.  Last 
season, these docks were the Essexville Sargent dock and Saginaw Rock Products.  Calumet was expected to be outbound late in the day on 
Wednesday.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 13, 2010

The Olive L. Moore-Lewis J. Kuber arrived during the night and 
lightered at the Bay City Wirt Stone dock before continuing upriver 
to finish at the Saginaw Wirt Stone Dock Tuesday morning. The tug-barge 
dock departed the dock during the afternoon, shortly before the 
Cuyahoga arrived at the adjacent Buena Vista Dock. Once a frequent 
visitor, the Cuyahoga has visited the river only a half-dozen times 
over the past four seasons. This was her first visit to the Saginaw 
River since 2008.

After turning at Sixth Street, the Moore-Kuber passed the Cuyahoga 
on its outbound transit. Cuyahoga was outbound late Tuesday night.

Reported by Steve Hause and Todd Shorkey

April 11, 2010

Overnight, the Olive L. Moore, with the Lewis J. Kuber, made the 
Bay Aggregates dock in Bay City for a partial unload. The pair 
then continued upriver to the Buena Vista dock in Saginaw to 
finish unloading.  The Moore-Kuber turned at Sixth Street and were 
outbound for the lake, passing through Bay City mid-morning on 
Sunday.  The tug Barbara Andrie and her tank barge were inbound 
Sunday morning, calling on the Bit-Mat Asphalt dock.  This is already 
the third delivery of the season to Bit-Mat this season, which was 
the total number of deliveries there for the entire 2009 season.  
Barbara Andrie and her barge are expected to be outbound early 
Monday morning.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 10, 2010
 
The tug Karen Andrie, with the tank barge Endeavour, departed the 
Bit-Mat dock early Saturday morning and was outbound for the lake.  
The pair passed the inbound tug Olive L. Moore and barge Lewis J. Kuber 
who were headed for the Bay Aggregates dock to lighter, before 
heading upriver to finish unloading.  Strong currents in the river 
from recent rains and high winds prevented the Moore and Kuber from 
making the tricky turn into the Bay Aggregates slip, so the pair tied 
up at the Essroc dock across the river to wait for more favorable 
conditions.  They remained there as of 6pm Saturday night.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 9, 2010

The tug Karen Andrie and tank barge Endeavour arrived on the 
Saginaw River Friday afternoon, calling on the Bit-Mat Asphalt 
dock in Bay City.  The pair expected to be finished with unloading 
and clear of the dock early Saturday morning.  Anchored out on the 
Saginaw Bay, and waiting for the Andrie and her barge to depart, 
is the tug barge combo Olive L. Moore/Lewis J. Kuber.  The pair 
will be going to the Bay Aggregates dock, which shares the same 
slip with Bit-Mat.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 8, 2010

Alpena departed the Lafarge dock Wednesday night and did not seem 
to have any trouble turning in the Sixth Street basin. She was 
outbound at the Airport turning basin around 11:30pm, headed for 
the lake. 

Reported by Todd Shorkey

April 7, 2010

The steamer Alpena called on the Saginaw River on a wet and 
foggy Wednesday morning, passing the Front Range around 7:30.  
She slowly made her way up the river to the Lafarge Cement dock 
in Carrollton.  Alpena is the first vessel of the 2010 season to 
travel all the way up the river, and it will be interesting to 
see how her turn goes in the Sixth Street basin when she departs, 
as silt from the spring runoff can cause shoaling, making it 
difficult to turn.  Alpena should be outbound late Wednesday night 
or early Thursday morning.  This is her first visit to the Saginaw 
River since the 2007 season when she made two visits.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

March 31, 2010

The 2010 shipping season got underway on Wednesday when the tug 
Karen Andrie and her tank barge arrived at the Bit-Mat Asphalt 
dock around 10 p.m. This is the first commercial delivery of the 
season. Last year, the first commercial cargo did not arrive until 
April 18 when Manitowoc called on the Saginaw Wirt Stone dock. It 
is expected Karen Andrie and her tank barge will be outbound for 
the lake on Thursday. 

Reported by Todd Shorkey

March 25, 2010

The USCGC Hollyhock got underway from the Consumers Energy 
dock Thursday morning and headed out to the Saginaw River 
Entrance Channel.  She worked throughout the day commissioning 
summer markers and then departed the area Thursday evening.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

December 9, 2009

On Monday, the USCG Cutter Hollyhock was working aids to navigation 
in the Saginaw River Entrance Channel, removing lighted summer buoys 
and replacing them with winter marks.  Also on Monday, Indiana Harbor 
called on the Consumers Energy dock in Essexville to unload coal.  
She completed her unload and backed from the dock later in the day.

Reported by Todd Shorkey

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