Ontario Venture launches grain runs from new Picton terminal

McKeil Marine's recently acquired laker *Ontario Venture* departed Picton, Ontario on Saturday, April 12, carrying the inaugural cargo from Parrish and Heimbecker's newly opened grain elevator—a mixed load of wheat and soybeans bound for the company's terminal in Quebec City. The voyage marks a milestone for both the vessel and the region: it's the first shipment from the P&H grain facility, which was constructed on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel operation and officially opened this spring after being announced in August 2024. The timing reflects confidence in early-season navigation. Water levels across the system remain well above winter norms, with Lake Ontario sitting 2.82 feet above Low Water Datum and Lake Erie at 2.57 feet—favorable conditions for deep-draft grain traffic heading downbound toward the Seaway. Lake Michigan and Huron are experiencing typical spring weather transitions, with a stationary front expected to drift south through Thursday, bringing scattered showers to Huron but manageable conditions elsewhere on the system. The opening of the Picton terminal by Parrish and Heimbecker, developed in partnership with Picton Terminals (a division of the Doornekamp group), represents a significant addition to Ontario's grain export capacity. For McKeil Marine, the *Ontario Venture* continues a tradition of family-operated vessel service on the Great Lakes—and this first load from Picton signals renewed activity at a waterfront site dormant for decades. As the navigation season gains momentum, shippers across the lakes are capitalizing on adequate water levels and ice-free passages. The recent opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to ocean traffic on March 22 has already brought international carriers back to the system, including the *Ocean7 Ranger*'s arrival at Burns Harbor last week, signaling that the 2026 season promises robust containerized and bulk movement.