ADCP Application to Ocean Current Measurement in the Kamarajar Port

1. Where is Kamarajar Port?

General View of Kamarajar Port

Kamarajar Port is situated on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a major port with well-developed infrastructure and enjoys an important place in the maritime trade of the country. The port is moderately to largely scaled and handles a good assortment of cargo such as coal, petroleum products, containers, and other bulk and general cargo.

The port's shipping routes connect Kamarajar Port to several other major ports in the country and overseas. It acts as a strategic linkage to various industries in the southern region of India in terms of the importation and exportation of vital goods. Its management and operation are effective and organized. Different teams handle various functions: vessel traffic control, cargo handling, and safety and security. Advanced technologies are adopted in optimizing the port facility: for instance, automated systems for cargo tracking and vessel scheduling.

Facilities

Berths: There are various types of berths in the port, each fitting for a specific purpose. They include those which will suit the need for huge bulk carriers for coal and other bulk materials and those that would serve container ships and tankers. These are fitted out with modern mooring and docking facilities for safe and efficient handling. -Cargo-handling equipment: This refers to a variety of cargo-handling equipment along the quay. There are conveyor systems and grab cranes for bulk cargo. For container handling, there is a high-speed, precision-loading capability availed by gantry cranes. Additionally, there are forklifts and other transfer equipment used for transferring cargo between the ships and storage areas. Storage Facilities: there are large areas for storage facilities of various types of cargo. The coal stockyards are in large scale with proper stacking and reclaiming systems. For petroleum products, there is a storage tank that is adequately fitted with safety features such as firefighting systems and spill/leak-containment measures. The port has container yards for the storage of containers as well as warehouses for general cargo storage.

Channel and Navigation Aids

The port's channel is maintained to a suitable depth and width to ensure the safe passage of ships. Regular dredging operations are carried out to keep it navigable. Navigation aids like buoys, lighthouses, and radar systems are in place to assist ships during their approach and departure.

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

Importance for Port Operation and Management

The measurement of currents at Kamarajar Port would serve several purposes. First, for vessel navigation safety. Currents can significantly affect the approach and docking of a ship to the berths. Accurate knowledge of current speed and direction helps ship captains make informed decisions and adjust their maneuvers. For example, a strong cross - current near a berth may make the process of docking quite complicated and dangerous. In such situations, having fresh current information may allow captains to alter their approach angles and speeds for smooth and safe docking, thereby avoiding any collision and accidents.

The second very important purpose is that it serves to optimize port operations. Current measurements provide for the better scheduling of ship arrivals and departures. In realizing the tidal currents and other normal regular flow patterns, the management of ports is able to book resources such as berths and handling equipment at their disposal. This increases productivity since the loading and unloading operations can be well-timed to coincide with the favorable current conditions and to avoid delays resulting from strong and unpredictable currents.

From an environmental point of view, knowledge about the ocean's currents allows forecasts about the dispersal of pollutants in the case of an accidental spill. In a port that manages diverse types of cargo, including dangerous ones such as petroleum products, this information is important for responding quickly to limit and mitigate the environmental damage. Considering these factors, which are pretty significant in their own ways, a precise and handy measurement system such as ADCP current profiler in the ocean current measurement in Kamarajar Port has immense value.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

The ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler. When an acoustic signal is produced by the ADCP current meter into the water, it scatters the moving particles of the water. Because of the ocean current, the water particles are in motion, which creates a frequency shift in the reflected acoustic signal that is received back by the ADCP flow meter. Since this shift in frequency is related to the velocity of the water flow, it can be explained with the help of the Doppler effect. From this, by analyzing the magnitude and direction of this frequency shift, the ADCP profilerADCP profiler calculates the speed and direction of the ocean current at a variety of depths in the water column. It sends out signals at multiple angles and makes multiple measurements to build a comprehensive profile of the ocean current-showing how the current changes with depth.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement Methods

Shipborne ADCP: A shipborne ADCP is installed on ships that operate within the Kamarajar Port area. As the ship moves around during its normal activities, such as patrolling or conducting surveys, the shipborne ADCP continuously emits acoustic signals into the water beneath it. It can cover a relatively wide area as the ship navigates different routes, collecting current data from multiple locations within the port. For example, in the normal process of a routine inspection of the port by a research vessel equipped with a shipborne ADCP, it can record the current patterns across many sections of the port and provide a holistic perspective of the situation of water flow.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are deployed at certain fixed locations within the port, such as on the seabed at important navigation areas or entrance/exiting areas of the port. They continuously monitor the ocean currents at those fixed positions over a much longer period. This long - term monitoring provides stable and consistent data which is useful for analyzing regular current patterns in certain areas of the port. For example, one bottom-mounted ADCP at the main entrance of the port can record the incoming and outgoing currents over time to understand the tidal influence and other persistent flow characteristics in that region.

4. What does one need to measure Kamarajar port currents with high quality?

Equipment Requirements

In order for the currents in Kamarajar port to be measured qualitatively, a number of requirements are necessary concerning the characteristics of the equipment. First of all, it has to be materially reliable. The apparatus is supposed to function in the sea environment and, more specifically, to withstand potential corrosion from seawater, which includes many salts and chemicals that act destructively against the material after some time. It must also withstand pressure variation for different water levels and mechanical forces due to waves and currents.

It would be desirable to achieve a smaller size and weight with lower power consumption. Smaller size enables easy installation in various locations at the port-be it on ships, on fixed structures such as piers, or even underwater. A lighter weight simplifies the installation and transportation processes. The low power consumption will ensure that the equipment can operate continuously over long periods without the need to replace batteries very often or excessive power supply, and this is quite essential for long-term monitoring applications.

Cost is also another important factor: The lower the cost, the more devices the port authority can deploy to measure current for a wider range of current monitoring in different areas of the port.

Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing of ADCPs is preferably made from titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has excellent resistance to corrosion, meaning it can maintain its structural integrity and functionality even in seawater for a long time. Its high strength-to-weight ratio enables the building of a casing that is both durable yet relatively lightweight. For instance, in those parts of the Kamarajar port that are deeper and thus exhibit higher water pressures, an ADCP flow meter encased in a titanium alloy will be able to bear up to such pressures without losing its capability for accurate measurement of currents.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: Where the objective would be to carry out wide-ranging surveys of the waters in a particular port while the ship is operational, then shipborne ADCP would be appropriate. This device would cover various areas of the port as it moves along its routine routes, therefore gathering enough data to provide a big-picture view of the overall current situation in the port area. This is useful for mapping the general flow patterns and variations across the different areas of the port waters.

Sitting - bottom ADCP: Only, in some cases, when there is a need to monitor certain fixed points located in the port for longer time periods or when currents behave in a very complicated manner will Bottom ADCPs be preferable to be sitting on the seabed. Thus, they could record continuously current data at those fixed positions in such parts of the port and provide very valuable information about the local current characteristics and their potential changes over time.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: In areas where the installation of fixed equipment on the seabed or ships is inconvenient for monitoring, buoy-mounted ADCPs are useful. They float on the water surface and can measure the currents in the upper layers of the water column. They can be easily deployed relatively and can be moved away if required; therefore, they can be used for certain dynamic or inaccessible regions of the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

The frequency of ADCPs can be chosen based on the water depth in Kamarajar port. For areas with a water depth of up to 70 meters, an ADCP flow meter with a frequency of 600 kHz is generally recommended due to better accuracy of the current it can provide at this relatively shallow depth range. In deeper waters of up to about 110 meters, an ADCP meter with a frequency of 300 kHz is more advisable. For extremely deep sections of the port, with a water depth reaching as high as 1000 meters, an ADCP current meter with a frequency of 75 kHz is recommended to ensure reliable profiling of the ocean currents at such great depths.

There are several well - known ADCP profiler brands in the market, such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, there is also an excellent Chinese ADCP brand - China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made entirely of titanium alloy material, which not only ensures its durability in the marine environment but also offers an excellent cost - performance ratio. For more information, you can visit its official website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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