By Lon Morgan, Stephen Hause, Todd Shorkey and Brian Ferguson
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