Chatham-Kent’s mayor and a local councillor say they are excited about the potential of a newly announced cross-lake truck ferry service that would connect Wheatley to Cleveland, Ohio, after the Port of Cleveland and Milo Harbour Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the project.
“This is MOU between Milo Harbour in Wheatley and the Port of Cleveland an exciting opportunity that could further position Chatham-Kent as an important gateway for trade between Canada and the United States,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “A direct freight connection across Lake Erie has the potential to attract investment, support local businesses and create new opportunities for economic growth. We’re excited to learn more about the project and better understand what it could mean for Chatham-Kent’s economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, and future investment across Chatham-Kent.”
Councillor Lauren Anderson, whose ward includes Wheatley, said the community is already a major player on the Great Lakes. “Wheatley is already home to the largest freshwater commercial fishing port in the world, and this MOU highlights the tremendous potential of our community and its location on Lake Erie. A direct connection to Cleveland could create new opportunities for Wheatley and Chatham-Kent, and we’re excited to learn more about the details, including the potential benefits and the potential impacts on local infrastructure and agricultural community.”
The proposed service, expected to launch in early 2028, would create a direct maritime cargo connection across Lake Erie, giving manufacturers, shippers, trucking companies and logistics partners an alternative to one of North America’s busiest and most congested border crossings.
The project would establish a cargo terminal at Milo Harbour in Wheatley, connecting directly with the Port of Cleveland. It is expected to accommodate up to 300 round-trip truckloads per day, with a one-way transit time of roughly two to three hours, offering a competitive alternative to current over-the-road truck transit times.
The initiative is designed to reduce dependence on increasingly congested highway and rail networks, particularly the Windsor-Detroit gateway, where roughly a quarter of all Canada-U.S. merchandise trade crosses the border.
“This new service further solidifies the Port of Cleveland as a leader in providing innovative services within the Great Lakes maritime trade,” said Port of Cleveland Chief Operating Officer David Gutheil. “We are proud to partner with Milo Harbour, who shares our vision to seek solutions that build the maritime trade relationship between Ohio and Canada.”
Once cargo arrives in Cleveland, it would have immediate access to the port’s highway and rail connections, reaching roughly half of the U.S. population within a 500-mile radius. The project would also give Canadian shippers access to the Port of Cleveland’s container service connecting to European markets, while Ohio-based exporters would gain quicker access to the Canadian market.
“This project represents a strategic opportunity for Wheatley, as well as the province of Ontario and all of Canada,” said Milo Harbour Project Director Kieran Stewart. “The team at Milo Harbour Inc. are committed to supporting Ontario and Canada’s plan to diversify trade and ensure our supply chains are stronger than ever. Along with our partners at the Port of Cleveland, we are becoming part of the solution to build Fortress North America.”
The project is also expected to reduce highway congestion and wear on regional transportation infrastructure by shifting some long-haul truck traffic onto the Great Lakes, while potentially lowering diesel emissions and improving air quality.
The proposed corridor would rely largely on existing infrastructure at both ports, with future investment focused on customs and border-processing facilities, cargo terminal improvements, a roll-on/roll-off ramp for trucks and trailers, and marine handling infrastructure to support barge operations.
The Port of Cleveland is one of only two container ports on the Great Lakes with international container service, handling roughly 12 million tons of cargo each year and generating more than $7 billion in annual economic activity.
Project planning and stakeholder engagement are continuing as the partners evaluate infrastructure requirements, regulatory approvals and operational planning for the proposed service. Milo Harbour Inc. is not a municipal initiative, and Chatham-Kent is not issuing a media release on the MOU.
