ADCP in Cirebon Port: Ocean Current Measurement

Explore ADCP's application for ocean current measurement in Cirebon Port, its working principle, equipment requirements, and selection.

1. Where is Cirebon port?

Cirebon port is located on the northern coast of Java, Indonesia. It is an important maritime gateway in the region.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port of Cirebon has a significant scale and plays a crucial role in Indonesia's domestic and international trade. It handles a wide range of cargo, including agricultural produce like rice and sugar, manufactured goods, and raw materials. The throughputs have been on the rise for the last couple of years due to increasing trade activities in the area. Many vessels, from small fishing boats to medium-sized cargo ships, can be accommodated.

Route and Business

It is connected with various domestic ports in Indonesia and also has international shipping routes. The business activities mainly involve the export of local agricultural and handicraft products and the import of machinery, chemicals, and other industrial goods. The port acts as an important link in the economic development of the region of Cirebon and its surroundings.

Port Management and Operation

The port management is efficient and focuses on ensuring smooth operations. The port authority oversees the berthing of vessels, cargo handling, and storage. Advanced technologies are used to manage the flow of goods and ships. There are also strict safety and security measures in place to protect the port and its operations.

Port Facilities

Cirebon Port is a modern facility with a number of berths of various lengths and depths. Cranes and other cargo-handling equipment are available to expedite the loading and unloading of goods. There are also vast storage areas, including dry warehouses and cold storage facilities for perishable goods. Additionally, ship repair and maintenance facilities are also available.

Channels and Direct Routes

The channels in the port are well-maintained to ensure safe navigation of ships. The port has direct routes to major ports in Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. These channels are regularly dredged to maintain the required depth for vessels, enabling efficient transportation of goods.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Cirebon port?

It is very important to measure ocean currents in the Cirebon port. First, for vessel safety, there is a lot of shipping traffic in this port, and knowledge of current patterns helps the ships to navigate safely. Strong and unpredictable currents can pose a risk to vessels, especially during docking and undocking operations. By having accurate current measurements, port authorities can provide better guidance to ship captains and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Second, this will contribute to the effective running of the port. With current information, there is the ability to optimally plan the arrival and departure times of vessels. It could also be useful in deciding on the most appropriate positions for cargo handling and storage and even the positioning of port facilities. Knowledge of the current patterns may result in resource utilization that is more effective and less expensive.

Current measurements are also useful in respect to the environment and coastal protection. The data obtained may present a view on the distribution of pollutants and sediments around the port area. The ecological balance of the coastal environment and dredging planning, among other maintenance procedures, requires this information. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) offers a more advanced and convenient way of carrying out these current measurements as compared to traditional methods.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

The ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler effect. They send acoustic signals into the water and measure the frequency shift of the reflected signal. The acoustic signals interact with particles in the water that are moving with the current. As these particles move, the frequency of the reflected signal changes due to the Doppler effect.

Ship-borne ADCP

The ADCP current meter is installed on a vessel in the case of a ship-borne ADCP in Cirebon port. The ship would move along the water with the ADCP flow meter emitting acoustic pulses either in a downward-looking or side-looking direction. It receives and analyzes the reflected signals from the water column. By comparing this signal against others, the Doppler shift shows the velocity of the current at various depths. That thus shows the profiling of the structure of the current as it cruises through the area.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs can be installed on structures such as piers or buoys. They continuously emit acoustic signals in a downward-looking direction. Then, the reflected signal is analyzed for the Doppler shift. Fixed ADCPs record the current continuously at a fixed location, thus providing a long-term record of the velocity and direction of the current, which is beneficial for understanding the current behavior near the port entrance or any other area of interest.

4. What is required for high-quality measurement of Cirebon port currents?

For high-quality current measurement in the Cirebon port, the equipment requires reliable materials. A small-sized and lightweight design is an added advantage, especially for ship - borne ADCPs. This will facilitate easy installation and transportation.

Particularly important is the feature of low power consumption, necessary for fixed ADCPs in continuous operation. Cost-effectiveness is also an enabling factor, as it allows deployment of several devices for the thorough measurement of currents.

The ADCP current profiler casing is preferably of Titanium alloy. Titanium alloy possesses outstanding corrosion resistance, which is of utmost importance in a marine environment such as a port. The saltwater in the Cirebon port can be corrosive to ordinary metals. Titanium alloy is resistant to seawater corrosion, which will ensure the longevity of the equipment. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio that helps in reducing the overall weight of the device while structural integrity is maintained.

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

Based on Usage

Ship-borne ADCP: This is suitable for when you want to measure currents during the movement of a vessel. In the Cirebon port, it can be used by ships to measure the current along their path, helping in navigation and operational decisions.

Bottom-moored ADCP: These are suited for long-term and fixed-point monitoring of currents near the seabed. It can be used to monitor the current behavior in some locations in the port, such as near the berths or around submerged structures.

Buoy - based ADCP: Where there is a need for area, long-term current monitoring and location flexibility, an ADCP buoy-based can be deployed. In the Cirebon port, this will help in placing this device where ships may not commonly pass, yet it could also mean a lot about understanding overall current patterns in this region.

Frequency Based

In general, for waters of up to 70m in depth, an ADCP profiler of 600kHz frequency will be appropriate. For waters approximately 110m deep, it is better to use the 300kHz frequency option. For very deep waters of up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP will serve best.

There are well-known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a recommended Chinese brand is China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, providing excellent durability. It also offers an incredible cost-performance ratio. You can find more information about this brand on its website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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

Brand model
Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor ADCP, Pinnacle ADCP, Sentinel V ADCP, Workhorse II Monitor ADCP, Workhorse II Sentinel ADCP, Workhorse II Mariner ADCP, Workhorse Long Ranger ADCP, RiverPro ADCP, RiverRay ADCP, StreamPro ADCP, ChannelMaster ADCP, etc.
NORTEK Eco, Signature VM Ocean, Signature ADCP, AWAC ADCP, Aquadopp Profiler, etc.
SonTek  SonTek-RS5, SonTek-M9, SonTek-SL, SonTek-IQ, etc.
China Sonar PandaADCP-DR-600K, PandaADCP-SC-300K, PandaADCP-DR-300K, PandaADCP-SC-600K, PandaADCP-DR-75K-PHASED, etc.
Jack Law December 9, 2024
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