ADCP Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Fujairah Port

1. Where is Fujairah Port

Fujairah Port is strategically located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, facing the Gulf of Oman. The strategic location has made the port a very important maritime entrance, as it links the UAE to the Indian Ocean and beyond. Lying between major shipping lanes, it serves as the region's key trans - shipment and bunkering hub.

Port Scale and Throughput

Fujairah Port is a large-scale port with immense capacity. There are a vast number of berths that have the capability of handling various vessels of large sizes, such as container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers. The annual throughput of this port is huge, handling everything from. It is also a significant center for the trans-shipment of oil and gas, mainly because of its proximity to the oil-producing areas. It also handles the importation and exportation of general cargo, which includes consumer goods, industrial machinery, and construction equipment. It also provides some services in the fishing industry by handling local fish landings and trade.

Routes and Business

The port has an enormous network of shipping routes. It has direct connections to major ports in the Middle East, including Dubai and Jebel Ali. In addition, regular shipping lines reach Asian ports, such as Mumbai, Singapore, and Shanghai, thus enabling the UAE to establish seamless trade with Asia. It has links with European ports through long-distance shipping routes. The major businesses undertaken by the Fujairah Port include oil and gas trading, general cargo handling, and ship - to - ship bunkering operations.

Port Management and Operation

The Fujairah Ports Authority very professionally and effectively runs the port. The management ensures that infrastructures in the port are operational, which involves berths, quays, and storage facilities. They observe international regulations as far as shipping, safety, and protection of the environment are concerned. To run activities in the port, it liaises with shipping companies, freight forwarders, among other stakeholders for smooth operations that are more competitive.

Port Facilities

Fujairah Port is equipped with modern and state - of - the - art facilities. There are large - capacity container cranes, capable of efficiently loading and unloading containers. General - purpose cranes are available for handling other dry cargo. For liquid cargo, especially oil and gas, there are specialized pipelines and storage tanks. Besides this, the port also has bulk warehouses for the storage of dry goods and open yards for the storage of bulk commodities. In addition, advanced facilities for repair and maintenance for ships are equipped with all ranges of services required by shipping companies.

Waterways and Direct Navigation

The approach waters to Fujairah Port are well-maintained, dredged from time to time, and safe for vessel traffic. There is a well-marked channel with buoys and lighthouses to guide the ships in their approach. It has direct access to the Gulf of Oman, whereby vessels have easy access to the global shipping network.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in Fujairah Port?

Navigation Safety

Accurate knowledge of ocean currents is essential for navigation safety in Fujairah Port. Currents in the Gulf of Oman are influenced by the monsoon winds, tides, and the exchange of water masses with the Arabian Sea. These can, in turn, have a strong impact on vessel movement, particularly during berthing, unberthing, and navigation within the port's channels. By measuring the ocean currents, ship captains can make informed decisions, adjust their courses, and avoid potential collisions or groundings.

Optimization of Port Operations

Ocean currents are significant in optimizing port operations. For instance, the current direction and speed are considered in vessel berthing. A strong current will make vessel berthing operations complicated and time-consuming. With the accuracy of the measured current, a port operator may plan for appropriate times for vessel maneuvers, enhance resource allocation, and make the cargo-handling operations effective. Currents also affect the motion of vessels that are employed for port-related activities, including tugboats and floating cranes; knowing this factor will provide enhanced safety and efficiency for operational performance.

Environmental Protection

Ocean currents are important in the measurement of environmental protection within the port area. Currents have a major influence on the spreading of contaminants. In case of an oil spill or the release of any other harmful substance, knowledge about the current patterns helps predict the spread of contaminants. This helps the environmental manager take timely precautionary measures for cleanup, hence protecting the sensitive marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Oman and its coastal areas.

In this regard, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) has become a reliable and efficient tool in measuring the current in Fujairah Port with high-precision and real-time data.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

​The operation of ADCPs is based on the principle of the Doppler effect. When an ADCP flow meter sends an acoustic signal into the water column, the sound waves encounter suspended particles in the water, such as sediment or small organisms. These particles are moving with the water current, and the frequency of the sound waves reflected back to the ADCP current meter differs from the original transmitted frequency. The frequency shift, now called the Doppler shift, is measured by the ADCP. It then uses the Doppler equation to compute the water current velocity at various water column depths.

Detailed Methods Used in Port Current Measurement

• Ship-borne ADCP: Ship-borne ADCP is fitted on a vessel in motion. When the vessel travels through waters in Fujairah Port, the ADCP measures current velocities at different levels along the path taken by the ship. The method serves satisfactorily in providing an overall view of current conditions within the port and thereby aids large-scale navigation planning.
• Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are installed in fixed positions at the port, such as on the seabed or on fixed structures like piers or buoys. These ADCPs can continuously monitor the current conditions at a particular point over an extended period and yield valuable data on long-term trends and local variations of the currents.

4. What's needed for high-quality measurement of Fujairah Port currents?

Equipment Reliability

The ADCP equipment will have to be very reliable for measuring high-quality current in Fujairah Port. The salinity of the water, strong winds during monsoons, and possible exposure to sand in the Gulf of Oman require the ADCP not to break down frequently when situated in such a harsh marine environment. Reliability within equipment ensures consistent data collection, a critical aspect for proper analysis and decision-making.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

The ADCP shall be compact in size and lightweight. This will aid in the ease of its installation, which may have several limiting factors when being placed on small, local vessels or within confined structures at a port. Secondly, there is the low power consumption that enables its long-term operation; mostly for fixed-installed ADCPs operating from battery-powered or solar-powered systems.

Cost-effectiveness

For the measurement over the port area with large scales, the cost of an ADCP should not be too high. Besides, with an economic ADCP, several sets of units could be deployed if necessary to collect overall current data at different parts of the port area.

Material Selection

The casing of the ADCP is best to be made of titanium alloy. Such a choice is explained by the following facts: first, titanium alloy gives excellent corrosion resistance, which is imperative for long-time use in such a salty marine environment as the Gulf of Oman; secondly, this alloy is strong yet light, fitting all the requirements of durability and easiness of installation.

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

Based on Usage

• Ship-borne ADCP: Good for great-wide area surveillance in the port area. In the case of a ship that needs to have a quick view of the current condition over a wide range, a ship-borne ADCP is ideal.
• Sit-on-bottom ADCP: Ideal for long-term monitoring at discrete locations within the port, such as near entrance areas or close to berths.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: Comes in handy when data is required at the water surface and the area of interest has poor bottom conditions for fixed bottom installation

Based on Frequency

• For water having a depth within 70m, 600kHz will do.
• For water up to 110m depth, an ADCP of frequency 300kHz will do the trick.
• If deeper waters are expected in the area, an ADCP operating at 75kHz will be useful.

Some well-known brands of ADCPs in the market include Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those who need an economical but good-quality one, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, ensuring excellent durability in the marine environment, and offers an incredible cost-performance ratio. You can visit their website for further details at: https://china-sonar.com/.

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