Ten ships are expected to berth at Sarnia Harbour over the winter, adding to the compliment of 100 that are there year round.
In 2015, the harbour generated over $500,000 in revenue for the city from freighter berthing and maintenance.
City Manager Margaret Misek-Evans says the fleet includes Algoma Central, Great Lakes Towing, and international vessels coming from CarGill.
"It provides business for 125 local and provincial companies," says Misek-Evans. "They're provided ship repair services, electrical services, and re-stocking. We supply hydro to those ships, and we've recently upgraded the transformers there to accommodate their power needs. There's, of course, the shipment of cargo both domestic and international, like grains and manufactured goods from the harbour."
Misek-Evans says the Canadian Coast Guard patrol vessels are also here for the winter.
They can access fuel for their ice breaking missions on Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.
They'll be here until the ice breaks up, likely by April.