Port Milwaukee Welcomes First Vessel Of Season

Port Milwaukee welcomed the Singapore-flagged Patagonman on March 30 as the first official vessel call of the 2025 navigation season. It arrived after unloading cargo in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, following an Atlantic Ocean voyage and transit through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The St. Lawrence Seaway’s locks opened March 22. It is a binational system, with two U.S. and 13 Canadian locks, which operates seasonally with a maintenance period from early January through late March.

Port Milwaukee’s international season corresponds with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. For nine months out of the year, Port Milwaukee welcomes cargo vessels from around the world.

“Port Milwaukee is a valuable link for businesses and farmers throughout the region who trade internationally,” Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “World markets strengthen our economy, and it is great to welcome the first international arrival of the 2025 shipping season.”

On April 1, Port Milwaukee staff went aboard the Patagonman to present Capt. Eduard Kovalevskiy with a plaque in celebration of being the first vessel of the season. After loading in Milwaukee, the Patagonman set sail for the United Kingdom.

Port Milwaukee saw 42 international visits last year, carrying about 342,000 metric tons of cargo—an increase or roughly 70 percent compared to the previous year.