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We now have real-time and historical draft data to show US, Canadian, and International vessel operators that we can guarantee safe draft conditions. This data allows us to pursue new business that helps to diversify the Port’s cargo base across dry bulk and project cargo markets. ​
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- Samuel C. Hankinson, Port Development Coordinator
The Story
The Port of Monroe, located on Lake Erie, faced the challenge of safely routing vessel traffic directly into the port while ensuring vessels had sufficient draft. With water depths that can shift by several feet in just hours due to wind events, reliable data was essential to guarantee safe navigation.
To meet this challenge, the Port of Monroe deployed two Hohonu real-time water level sensors at the Port’s Riverfront Dock, a specialized breasted platform at the Port’s area of deepest draft along the River Raisin.This berth handles bulk, steel products, wind tower components, and project cargo during a typical shipping season as well as the occasional layover by other vessels.
With access to both live and seasonal depth data, port staff can now ensure safe vessel entries, improve navigation planning, and demonstrate the reliability needed to attract new traffic — critical for a small port.
Problem
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Unpredictable water level swings in Lake Erie due to the body’s shallowness and West-East shape can reduce depths by several feet in hours, increasing grounding risk.
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Critical draft requirements leave little margin for error when routing vessel traffic directly into port. A vessel delivering cargo to Monroe must prepare days, sometimes weeks in advance due to sequencing and cargo loading operations.
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NOAA data alone is insufficient - not capturing localized depth variations critical to safe navigation. Cargo owners and freight forwarders tend to rely on outdated sources of data like NOAA when make decisions on where to route cargo, which is a huge challenge for the Port of Monroe.
Stakeholders
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Port of Monroe Director & Development Coordinator – overseeing safety, vessel traffic, and port growth.
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Vessel Operators – needing real-time draft assurance to confidently plan entries.
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Port Customers – operators relying on safe and efficient delivery windows.
Solution
Outcomes
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Safe Navigation – Depths typically held between 24–25 feet, well above the 18-foot threshold.
Critical Event Detection – Identified low-water events, including a 3.8-foot drop in under 7 hours.
Improved Decision-Making – Operators can now adjust to conditions that nearby NOAA sensors may miss (e.g., June event where Hohonu data showed depths 8 inches shallower).
Business retention and guaranteed safe operations - The demonstrated reliability of the sensors allowed the Port to utilize them as a critical tool in every cargo development conversation, from the first inquiry to post-execution.
Solution
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Installed two Hohonu water level sensors to continuously monitor real-time draft conditions.
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Generated automated low-water reports, highlighting both gradual and rapid water depth drops.
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Benchmarked against NOAA data, confirming correlation while exposing critical local differences.