Ontario Venture Launches New Picton Grain Era on Lakes

The navigation season is officially underway on the Great Lakes, marked by McKeil Marine's *Ontario Venture* departing Picton, Ontario, on Saturday with the inaugural cargo from Parrish and Heimbecker's newly built grain terminal. The vessel carried a mixed load of wheat and soybeans bound for P&H's terminal in Quebec City—a milestone moment for both the recently acquired *Ontario Venture* and the grain facility that only opened this spring. The Picton terminal represents a significant new infrastructure investment for the region, built in partnership between P&H and Picton Terminals on the site of a former industrial property. Not far away, the *Wilfred Sykes* kicked off stone-hauling operations Friday at Calcite, Michigan, marking the first seasonal load from that port. The vessel subsequently moved to Port Dolomite to take on additional cargo, signaling brisk early-season activity in the northern Michigan limestone trade. Water levels across the lakes remain healthy for spring navigation. Lake Ontario is running 2.66 feet above Low Water Datum, Lake Erie at 2.42 feet, and Lake Superior at 1.15 feet above datum. These favorable conditions should support consistent cargo movements through the shoulder season. However, mariners should note active weather systems tracking across the region. A gale watch is in effect for Lake Michigan through late tonight, with waves building to 6 feet. Lake Huron faces multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through Thursday, while Lake Superior encounters its own evolving low-pressure system. The Great Lakes Now network continues tracking renewable energy adoption across the region, with grassroots solar programs expanding across Michigan communities—a reminder that the lakes region is advancing on multiple fronts beyond traditional cargo operations.