ADCP Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Castellón Port

1. Where is Castellón Port?

The Port of Castellón, located on the eastern coast of Spain, within the province of Castellón, is a major facility in this region. Its economic activities span a wide area.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port is quite large and receives high volumes of cargo. The merchandise mainly consists of bulk cargo, with the predominance of petrochemical, minerals, and construction material. It moves a considerable volume of cargo yearly due to the constant transit of large vessels with goods. Apart from that, it also deals in some movements of containers and general cargo, hence broadening the area of business coverage.

Routes and Business

Castellón Port is integrated into regional and international shipping routes. It is the linking factor for trade between Spain and other European countries, and with North Africa and the Middle East. The activities of the port are focused on bulk cargo handling and storage. It provides services in the sphere of loading and unloading, warehousing, and transportation logistics. The petrochemical industry is greatly dependent on the port in terms of importing raw materials and exporting finished products.

Port Management and Operation

The port management is efficient and safety-oriented. In fact, there is comprehensive traffic control as part of the management systems for the proper control of ship movements. Therefore, the facilities maintained by this authority include infrastructures such as deep-water berths, storage tanks for liquid cargo, and extensive areas for solid bulk cargo. Additionally, they undertake very strict enforcement of environmental and safety regulations against any form of perils to surroundings and port facilities.

Port Facilities

It also boasts modern facilities, considering the wide range of cargo that it handles. There are deep-water berths, which can handle bulk carriers and tankers. Cargo-handling equipment includes cranes for loading and unloading bulk lot materials and pipelines that may be used for transferring liquid cargo. The storage facilities include vast, open-space warehouses for dry bulk and storage tanks for chemicals and petroleum products.

Channel and Direct Navigation

Castellón Port has a well-maintained and navigable channel, which provides access to the sea. The channel is deep enough to allow big-draft vessels to enter and leave the port. Navigation aids like buoys, lighthouses, and radar systems are in place to guide ships safely into and out of the port. One can navigate directly to and from other major ports; thus, it is a strategic location for shipping in the region.

2. Why measure ocean currents in the port of Castellón?

Measurement in Ocean Currents of Castellón Port is essential for a number of key reasons. First and foremost, it grants safety to shipping. The knowledge of the pattern of currents aids the ship captains in planning their approaches or departures more precisely. From the understanding of the direction and speed of the currents, ships can adjust courses and speeds to ensure that the docking is smooth and safe. It is in case of large tankers and bulk carriers that it assumes the maximum importance since these vessels are difficult to maneuver.

Accurate current measurements are important in the commercial operations of the port for efficient cargo handling. Tugboats need to be aware of the current conditions for effective assistance during docking and undocking. In addition, for moored ships, knowledge of the currents helps in determining appropriate mooring arrangements to prevent the ships from drifting and causing damage to the port infrastructure or other vessels.

From an environmental viewpoint, understanding the currents at a port is very essential for waste management and pollution control. Currents result in the dispersal of pollutants and transportation of sediments. These current measurements thus help in managing the disposal of waste accordingly and avoid accumulation of sediments that may reduce the depth of the channel or berths. The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) does this much more accurately and with much greater efficiency than traditional techniques.

3. How do ADCPs based on the Doppler principle work?

The ADCPs basically work on the principle of the Doppler effect. They send acoustic pulses into the water column. These pulses scatter off particles in the water, like suspended sediments, plankton, or other small objects. Due to the water current that carries these particles, the frequency of the reflected sound waves shifts by the Doppler effect.

The ADCP measures the frequency difference between the emitted and received. By applying the Doppler equation, the ADCP current meter estimates the velocity of the particles, proportional to the current velocity. The ADCP can measure current velocity at various depths through the water column, providing a vertical profile of the current.

Ship-borne ADCP

When an ADCP current profiler is installed on a ship-borne, it gets installed on a vessel. During the movement of the ship around the port area, the ADCP flow meter continuously emits and receives acoustic signals. The data collected during the movement of the ship provides a comprehensive view of the current patterns in different parts of the port. Such ADCPs are useful for surveying a wide area and getting real-time current data.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed in a location fixed in the port either on the seabed or on a pier. They measure continuously the current at this point. They are extremely valuable for the long-term monitoring of current patterns in areas of heavy traffic or around critical port infrastructures, such as channel entrance or berths.

4. Which instruments should be used to measure high-quality currents from the port of Castellón?

For current measurement at the port of Castellón, the equipment to be used for high-quality measurement would have a number of desirable characteristics: the material should be reliable in harsh marine conditions; the size of the equipment should be small, to allow for easy installation, especially on ships or in crowded port facilities.

The weight of the ADCP profiler should be light to simplify the installation process and reduce the load on the supporting structures. Low power consumption is also important, as it allows for continuous operation without the need for a large power supply. Cost-effectiveness is a key factor, as the port may need to deploy multiple units for comprehensive current measurement.

The casing of the ADCP meter is preferably made of titanium alloy. The reason is that titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, which is crucial in the salty marine environment. Besides, it is strong enough and light, according to the requirements of strength and lightness for easy installation.

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

Based on Usage Purpose

• Ship-borne ADCP: This is suitable for mobile measurements. It is ideal for ships that move around the port area, such as bulk carriers, tankers, and container ships. The ship-borne ADCP provides a way to measure currents along the ship's track and is useful for understanding the overall current patterns in the port.
• Bottom-mounted ADCPs: These are ideal for fixed-point measurements. They are installed on the seabed near the docks, channels, or other critical port infrastructures. The bottom-mounted ADCPs deliver continuous data of the currents at that point and are basically used to monitor the local current conditions.
• Buoy-based ADCP: Buoy-based ADCPs are ideal for areas not suitable for fixed - bottom or ship - borne ADCPs. They could provide current measurements in open water areas of the port and are relatively easy to deploy and maintain.

Based on Frequency

• The choice of frequency depends upon the water depth. A 600kHz ADCP in the water structure can go as low as 70m; this is intended for areas quite near the shores or innermost part of the port. It is worth noting that for deeper structures-which goes to a depth of 110m-a 300kHz ADCP should be installed. For deeper waters in the port area, a 75kHz ADCP will suffice for water depths up to 1000m and can be used in areas such as the approach channels.
• There are well-known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a Chinese brand, China Sonar PandaADCP, is also a great option. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, providing excellent durability and a high level of corrosion resistance. It also offers an attractive cost-performance ratio. You can visit their website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more details.

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