The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has approved a $1.6 million design contract for cruise ships on Lake Erie.
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Published: 8:57 PM EDT June 25, 2025
Updated: 8:57 PM EDT June 25, 2025
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has approved a design contract to bring cruise ships to Lake Erie.
LiRo Engineers will be paid more than $1.6 million to engineer and design the architecture, and to oversee the construction administration. The contractor would stay on board through the end of the project.
Officials said the firm is also familiar with working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is a must on Lake Erie.
Design work would begin in July, with construction expected to begin as soon as next year.
“These cruises will be going from 180 passenger, they could go up to 280 passenger,” Mark Wendel, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation president, previously told 2 On Your Side.
The plan has them docking at Slip 2 on the Outer Harbor near where the old Pier Restaurant was before it was torn down in the fall of 2007.
“We hear that being at Canalside, people that haven’t been to Buffalo in a long time love to see what’s being developed at Canalside, love to see what’s happening at the waterfront, you know, that’s the spring, summer, early fall places to be in the city. And I think bringing visitors to this location in a different capacity allows them to experience what we’ve known for a long time. We are a great waterfront city,” Wendel said.
Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO, said this could attract a variety of new tourists to Western New York.
“This is exciting. We’re getting closer and closer to the possibility of welcoming Great Lakes cruise ships to Buffalo,” Kaler said. “It means bringing a whole new visitor profile to our destination, maybe a little bit more affluent visitor. Plus, a visitor who likes to do repeat visitation.
“After they’ve already been on the ships, they usually go back to those destinations that they’ve visited, so we’re very excited about that. Plus, the possibility of they’re telling their friends and family about their experiences in Buffalo.”
Buffalo cruise plan sails forward with $1.6M design contract WHEC.com.
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