ADCP Application in the Ocean Current Measurement of Szczecin Port

1. Where is Szczecin Port

Szczecin Port is located on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, in northwestern Poland. It is situated at the mouth of the Oder River and is capable of a direct link with the interior of Poland and Central Europe by inland waterways. This strategic location makes it an important transit point in the trade between Poland, the Baltic states, and other countries around the Baltic Sea region. It is also an important gateway for goods in transit between Central Europe and the Nordic countries, with easy access to major shipping routes in the Baltic Sea.

Port Scale and Throughput

Szczecin Port is a medium-sized port with a diverse set of capabilities. It has a total of several berths, in which each berth is assigned for various classes of vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers, and Ro - Ro vessels. It has a very high annual throughput in terms of tons of cargo it handles. The port plays an important role in the import and export of goods such as coal, fertilizers, and construction materials. Apart from this, it is an important hub for agricultural products handling due to the agricultural productive capacity of Poland. The port is also developing in the field of handling project cargo, which includes large-scale industrial equipment.

Routes and Business

The Port has an extended network of shipping routes. It has direct connections to major Baltic Sea ports like Stockholm in Sweden, Riga in Latvia, and Gdynia in Poland. These enable the effective transport of goods within the Baltic region. There are also regular ferry services to destinations in Scandinavia, facilitating passenger and vehicle transportation. On the business side, Szczecin Port deals with general cargo handling, container trans-shipment, and Ro-Ro operations. It is also an important spot for storage and distribution, having modern facilities with a warehousing area.

Port Management and Operation

It is operated by the Szczecin-Świnoujście Port Authority and is based on the principle of safety, efficiency, and protection of the environment. Management ensures that infrastructure within the port, such as berths, quays, and storage facilities, is duly maintained. International shipping regulations, safety standards, and environmental protection are observed and controlled. Shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other partners coordinate with the port authority in seeking ways of optimizing operations for increased competitiveness.

Port Facilities

The port of Szczecin is well developed and has modern facilities to handle various types of cargo and vessels. It has container-handling cranes that are efficient in the loading and unloading of containers from ships. For Ro-Ro vessels, it has ramps and handling areas dedicated to their needs. It also has storage areas, which include warehouses for general cargo and open-air yards for bulk commodities. It is equipped with ship-repair and maintenance facilities both for the commercial fleet, as well as for local fishing boats. Facilities also exist for handling liquid bulk cargo, such as oil and chemicals.

Waterways and Direct Navigation

The waterways leading to Szczecin Port are maintained and dredged regularly to guarantee safe passage for vessels. The port has a well-marked channel, and there are navigational aids such as buoys and lighthouses that assist the ships in their approach. It has direct access to the Baltic Sea, whereby vessels can easily connect to the global shipping network. The Oder River provides an additional route for inland navigation, enabling the transportation of goods to and from the interior of Poland and other Central European countries.

2. Why will the ocean currents in Szczecin Port be measured?

Navigation Safety

Knowledge of ocean currents in Szczecin Port is very vital in navigation for reasons of safety. Currents in the Baltic Sea are caused by tides, wind, and the exchange of water masses. These can potentially have massive effects on a vessel's motion, especially at berthing and unberthing, and inside the channels of the port facility. The measured data on sea currents will thus assist captains to make informed decisions and alter course to avoid all forms of vessel collision or even grounding.

Optimization of Port Operations

Ocean current data becomes highly important when it comes to optimizing port operations. The direction and strength of currents should be put in greater consideration in cases of berthing vessels. Stronger currents may make the process of berthing more laborious and time-consuming. With correct current measurements, port operators will be in a position to plan optimal times for vessel maneuvers, plan resources more economically, and optimize the efficiency of cargo-handling operations in general. Currents also affect the movements of port-related craft, like tugboats and floating cranes, and knowing these factors will contribute to improving safety and efficiency of operations.

Environmental Protection

Measuring ocean currents is important for environmental protection in the port area. Currents are very important in the dispersion of pollutants. In the case of an oil spill or other harmful substances, knowledge of the current patterns can help predict the spread of the contaminants. This enables environmental managers to take timely preventive and cleanup measures, protecting the sensitive marine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea and the surrounding coastal areas.

The ADCP flow meter is a reliable and efficient instrument in measuring currents in Szczecin Port, presenting high-precision and real-time data.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

Working on the basis of the Doppler effect, ADCPs. In the operation of an ADCP current profiler, when a signal is transmitted into the water column, the sound waves encounter suspended particles in the water, such as sediment or small organisms. The motion of these particles with the water current causes a frequency shift of the reflected sound waves compared to the originally transmitted one. It is the Doppler shift that is measured by the ADCP. By using the Doppler equation, the instrument calculates the velocity of the water current at different depths within the water column.

Specific Methods in Port Current Measurement

• Ship-borne ADCP: A ship-borne ADCP is installed on a moving vessel. As the ship sails through the water in Szczecin Port, the ADCP current meter can measure the current velocity at multiple depths along the ship's track. This method is useful for obtaining a broad-scale view of the current conditions in the port, which is beneficial for large-scale navigation planning.
• Fixed ADCP: Bottom-mounted, fixed ADCPs are installed on the seabed or on fixed structures in the port, such as piers or buoys. These ADCPs have the capability to monitor the current conditions continuously over a long period at a particular point and hence provide very valuable data about the long-term trends and local variations of the currents.

4. What does high-quality measurement of Szczecin Port currents require?

Equipment Reliability

The ADCP profiler equipment for the current measurement in Szczecin Port should be very reliable for high-quality measurements. Since the marine environment in the Baltic Sea offers changing salinity, cold temperatures, and even potential exposure to strong winds, it requires an ADCP able to resist extreme conditions without frequent breakdowns. Reliability means that equipment ensures continuity in data collection, which is crucial for making correct analysis and decisions.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

The ADCP meter should be small in size and lightweight, facilitating installation in all situations where there is very limited space available for installation, as in small vessels of the locals or confined port structures. Power consumption has to be low in order to facilitate long-term operations, particularly when fixed installations are made using only battery-powered or solar-powered systems.

Cost-effectiveness

Reasonable costs of ADCP allow it to be capable of large-scale measurement in the port area. If an ADCP with cost-effectiveness is applicable, deployment in units-multiple, if necessary-means gathering in-depth current data from various aspects of the entire port.

Material Selection

The casing of the ADCP is preferably made of titanium alloy. The use of a titanium alloy can provide very good corrosion resistance, which is highly required for long-term use in the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Besides, it is strong and light, satisfying the requirements of both durability and easiness of installation.

5. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

Based on Usage

• Ship-borne ADCP: Suitable for large-scale surveys around the port area. A ship-borne ADCP is ideal when a ship has to quickly investigate the current conditions over a wide area.
• Sit-on-bottom ADCP: It is a type used for long-term monitoring at some locations in the port, such as near the entrance or at locations close to berths.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: It is useful for the collection of water surface data and also in some sites where a fixed bottom ADCP cannot be installed.

Based on Frequency

• For a depth of water up to 70m, the 600 kHz ADCP is enough.
• 300 kHz is also good to go up to 110m of a water depth.
• When the area consists of deep waters, the 75 kHz is applicable.

Well-accepted ADCP brands include Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. For more cost-effective yet quality alternatives, though, nothing beats the product made by China, a Sonar PandaADCP. The whole fuselage is manufactured with all-titanium alloy material to offer the best possible resistance against such an environment; besides that, it is available at an exceptionally reasonable price compared to performance. You can visit their website at https://china-sonar.com/ for more information.

Here is a table with some well known Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP)  instrument brands and models.