Cleveland and Ontario Sign a New Lane Across Erie

The Port of Cleveland and Milo Harbour Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding Wednesday to launch a cross-lake truck ferry service between Northeast Ohio and Southern Ontario, with a target start date of early 2028.

The route would put cargo trucks on Lake Erie rather than through the congested border crossings that manufacturers and logistics companies on both sides of the lake spend considerable time and money navigating. The MOU describes the service as a direct maritime link; no vessel has been named, no dock confirmed, no freight rate posted.

What exists today is a signed agreement and a two-year runway. Lake Erie is the shallowest of the five lakes and the most crossable by design. The industrial corridor it would serve is real. The 2028 date gives shipbrokers and dock planners something concrete to work toward, and it gives watchers a new line to draw on the Erie map.

Harbor Notes

Toledo logged a full card on Wednesday. Arrivals included Algoma Sault to ADM, John J. Boland to Torco, and Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader to Ironville. Outbound: Samuel deChamplain/Innovation for Alpena, Blair McKeil for Grand Anse, and Wilf Seymour/Alouette Spirit for Windsor. Manitowoc moved to CSX.

At Marblehead, Northern Venture arrived to load limestone at Amrize.

In Cleveland, Paul R. Tregurtha departed Wednesday for Duluth and Mark W. Barker left for Detroit. Calumet arrived at Ontario Stone. American Courage remains on the shuttles.

American Integrity departed Conneaut for Two Harbors.

The Levels Ledger

Lake Erie stands at 2.98 feet above Low Water Datum at Cleveland, the highest reading among the lower four lakes. Lake Ontario leads the full chain at 3.66 feet. Lake Superior sits lowest at 1.78 feet. That 1.88-foot spread from Ontario to Superior is not trivial: deep-draft boats routing north toward the Soo should account for the tighter margin on Superior. Vessels loading coal and stone on Erie have reasonable water under them this week.

Weather on the Water

High pressure at 30.00 inches governs Erie today and holds through Friday, with wave heights at two feet. Lake Michigan runs one foot under a drifting southerly. Huron sits at two feet under the same ridge. Superior sees that ridge yield to troughing of 28.8 to 29.9 inches this afternoon, with some wave building possible. Ontario is calm at one foot. A low at 29.60 inches enters Erie from the west Saturday; it tracks slowly south of the lake, making the weekend the next thing to watch.

Looking Astern

The Paul R. Tregurtha left Cleveland for Duluth Wednesday, which is a fitting moment to note who has been at her helm. Capt. Steve Hughes, a Marquette native whose father taught geography at Northern Michigan University, is retiring in December after three decades in the industry. His father used to take him to the Marquette docks to watch ore boats load. He ends his career as pilot of the longest vessel operating on the Great Lakes, a distinction he calls more symbolic than operational. The Tregurtha is now outbound for Duluth.

Tomorrow's Watch Herbert C. Jackson arrived at Sandusky's Norfolk Southern dock Tuesday to load coal with no departure logged by Wednesday's close; if loading runs on schedule, watch for her to clear Sandusky and head north by Friday morning.

Vessel Spotlight: Paul R. Tregurtha departed Cleveland on Wednesday bound for Duluth, the longest vessel on the Great Lakes under a captain who grew up watching ore boats work the Marquette docks. Capt. Steve Hughes retires in December after three decades on the lakes, his final season at the wheel of the boat his father never imagined he would command.