"They are very impressive ships: Ships docking at Port of Milwaukee a reminder that winter's not over!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- When the ships cruise into the Port of Milwaukee, it is a sign that there's a lot of winter left! The annual docking is a tourist attraction of sorts -- but it doesn't come free for the ships.

Finding a parking spot is always harder in the winter, so imagine pulling up in a huge ship!

"They are absolutely huge aren't they. These would be the biggest on the Great Lakes," Bob Jaeck said.

A chance to watch the annual docking was the one-and-only reason Bob Jaeck drove in to Milwaukee from Racine Monday, January 26th.

"They are very impressive ships and behind us is the Stewert J. Cort. which was the first 1,000-footer built on the Greak Lakes in the early 1970s," Jaeck said.

You could call Jaeck a maritime admirer. When something big pulls into the Port of Milwaukee, he'll stop by to snap a few pictures.

"At the end of Greenfield is an excellent spot here to come and view them," Jaeck said.

Five ships have docked at the Port of Milwaukee for the winter, including three carriers -- each 1,000 feet long. Their arrival is good news for the ships' crews. They get to go home, but for us, it's a reminder.

"Winter is definitely here when you see these boats come in. Winter is here. Otherwise you'll never see them all year long," Port of Milwaukee Harbor Master Wayne Johnson said.

For now, these ships are part of a floating display. And just like drivers parking in downtown Milwaukee, the boats don't stay at the Port of Milwaukee for free.

So it's pay to stay -- but free to see.

"I've been coming down here since the middle 1970s taking pictures of the Milwaukee Harbor. It's very cool," Bob Jaeck said.

Port of Milwaukee officials will perform maintenance on the ships while they're docked there. When they leave all depends on the weather, and the ice on Lake Michigan.