ADCP Application for Ocean Current Measurement at Felixstowe Port

1. Where is Felixstowe Port?

Felixstowe Port is located on the east coast of England. It constitutes one of the biggest and busiest container ports in the United Kingdom and a vital part of Britain's ocean trade infrastructure.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port is of enormous scale: it receives a very high container throughput, which has continually been among the highest in Europe on a yearly basis. It also handles other cargoes, such as bulk liquids and general cargo, but these are relatively small in volume. Its strategic location and very good connectivity have contributed to its growth and its status as a major international trade hub.

Routes and Business

Felixstowe Port also has links with a vast array of worldwide shipping routes. It is an important link in the supply chain between the UK and the rest of the world. The main business of the port is container handling, with a wide range of goods being imported and exported. This includes consumer goods, electronics, automotive parts, and clothing. It also offers value addition services that include container storage, customs clearance, and freight-forwarding services.

Port Management and Operation

The port is professionally managed. It is an elaborate operation whereby the team professional team supervises the berth allotment efficiently, coordinates with shipping lines for the arrival and dispatch of vessels, and arranges cargo translation within the port facility. Regular upgrading and maintenance of port facilities are undertaken to cater to the growing volume of trade and meet the highest standards concerning safety and security.

Port Facilities

The port is fitted with modern state-of-art facilities, and it has a large number of deep-water berths to receive the world's largest container ships. Advanced high-capacity lifting gantry cranes are used to load and unload containers with the greatest speed and efficiency possible. Large storage areas are likewise provided, with well-organized container yards and warehouses for the storage of various commodity items. Channel and Direct Shipping

The port of Felixstowe has a well-maintained and dredged channel that allows ships to enter and leave safely and smoothly. It has direct shipping connections with the major ports of the globe, enabling it to ensure a fast transfer of goods as well as playing an important role in the international trade.

2. Why do we have to measure the ocean currents in the Felixstowe Port?

Navigation Safety

Ocean current measurement in the Felixstowe Port is highly necessary regarding ensuring ship safety: the port is always busy with huge container ships and other vessels, where ocean currents can give quite a considerable change to the approach and docking of a ship. For instance, a strong cross-current at the entrance to a port can significantly alter a ship's course from its programmed route, increasing collision risks with other vessels or the structural components of the port itself. Precise current measurements allow the captains of ships to make more precise adjustments to their navigation and ensure that the docking process is safely executed.

Operational Efficiency

This indeed aids in the general operational efficiency at the port. It facilitates ships to make use of advantageous currents for economic fuel consumption, thus reducing traveling time. To illustrate this point, a following current at the time of leaving the port enables ships to reach their destinations more quickly and economically. Moreover, a thorough knowledge of the patterns in currents helps in optimizing the scheduling of vessel arrivals and departures at the port for the most efficient use of resources.

Infrastructure Maintenance and Planning

Some ocean currents, especially those from rivers, are very important for long-term port infrastructure maintenance and planning. The currents can create erosion in the base and damage stability in structures like piers and breakwaters over time. In turn, through continuous monitoring of the currents, port authorities could prepare for possible damage by proactive maintenance and reinforcement in due time. This helps in future infrastructure design, ensuring better resistance from the forces imparted by ocean currents.

ADCP current meter, also known as the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, is a more advanced and convenient method for the measurement of current. This presents detailed, real-time data about the velocity and direction of currents at varied depths, giving a more comprehensive insight into the water flow conditions in the port than more traditional methods.

3. How do the ADCPs of the Doppler principle work?

The ADCPs operate on the basis of the Doppler principle. They send out acoustic signals into the water. These signals collide with moving particles in the water, such as suspended sediments or small organisms. When the acoustic waves are reflected back from these moving particles, the frequency of the reflected waves changes due to the Doppler effect.

Shipborne ADCP

The ship is fitted with a shipborne ADCP in Felixstowe Port. As this ship navigates through the port area, the ADCP current profiler sends acoustic signals continuously to the downward and sideways directions. Since the ship moves through different paths within the port, this ADCP measures ocean current velocity at different depth points or locations. This provides a wide-area survey of the water currents during the ship's operation.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are mounted at discrete points within the port, for example, from underwater structures near the entrance, along quay walls, or other fixed points. They record, continuously at a fixed location, the ocean currents without moving. Thus they are used in long - term and consistent data collection about the current situation in that specific location. This may be useful in understanding the normal cycles and fluctuations of the currents in the port at specific areas.

4. What is required for high-quality measurement of Felixstowe Port currents?

Material Reliability

The current measuring equipment, especially the casing of the ADCP meter, must be made from reliable materials. One of the preferred materials on this basis is the titanium alloy. Indeed, titanium alloy enjoys very good corrosion resistance essential for putting up with the harsh sea environment. In fact, equipment with less-resistant materials will suffer serious damage to the corrosive effect of seawater. The high strength-to-weight ratio of the titanium alloy provides great protection for the internal components of the ADCP profiler while keeping the equipment relatively lightweight. This, in turn, makes installation easier whether on a ship or fixed underwater location. Another advantage is its good thermal stability, which is beneficial within the variable temperature conditions of marine environments.

Size, Weight and Power Consumption

The equipment should be of minimal size and lightweight. A compact and lightweight ADCP current profiler is easier to mount and minimizes disturbance to the water flow during measurement; installation, whether on a ship or at a fixed position in the port, is simplified. Low power consumption is also important. For long-term monitoring, low power consumption is especially crucial for fixed ADCPs; it means the equipment can run without constant battery replacements or any power supply issues.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cost is one of the key considerations for large - scale measurement. If it's too expensive, that limits how many ADCPs can be deployed within the port. A cost-effective solution, on the other hand, allows for more comprehensive coverage for current measurement, allowing a better understanding of the ocean currents throughout the port area.

5. How to Choose the right equipment for current measurement?

Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: If the main purpose is to conduct current measurements during the ship's movement in the port area, then shipborne ADCP is quite suitable. It would be able to cover relatively large areas with the ship navigating around the port to give a general view of the current conditions in different parts of the port.

Bottom - mounted ADCP: For fixed - point monitoring of specific locations in the port, such as near critical infrastructure or areas with unique current characteristics, bottom-mounted ADCP is the right option. It remains stationary at a selected position and continuously records the current conditions there, which is valuable for understanding the long - term behavior of the currents.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: This can be deployed when currents in a specific surface area or in open waters within the port have to be monitored. It floats on the water surface, and its immediate surrounding current measurements are useful to get an idea about the surface current pattern.

Based on Frequency and Depth

Different frequencies of ADCPs should be adopted based on the water depth. For water within a depth of 70m, the 600kHz ADCPs are recommended as they can provide current measurements accurately for a comparatively shallow region. The 300kHz ADCPs would be more appropriate for depths up to 110m. And 75kHz ADCPs are suitable for water depths up to 1000m.

There are well - known ADCP current profiler brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a Chinese brand, China Sonar PandaADCP, stands out. It is made of all - titanium alloy material, ensuring high durability and reliability in the marine environment. Moreover, it offers an incredible cost - performance ratio. You can learn more about it through its official website: https://china-sonar.com/.

Conclusively, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) plays a key role in the ocean current measurement at Felixstowe Port. It is very important to find the appropriate equipment with respect to one's specific needs to get accurate and useful data in order to help the port be managed and operated efficiently.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.