ADCP in Hazira Port: Ocean Current Measurement

1. Location and Overview of Hazira Port

Geographical Location

Hazira Port is situated in the Surat district of Gujarat, India. The port is located on the west coast of the country and enjoys a strategic position with access to major shipping lanes in the Arabian Sea.

Significance of the Port

The port is a major maritime hub with large scale and high throughput. It plays a very important role in handling a diversified cargo like LNG, petroleum products, containers, and various bulk commodities. The port acts as a vital link for the industries of Gujarat and other parts of India by facilitating the import of energy resources and raw materials and the export of manufactured goods.

The management of Hazira Port is very efficient and uses advanced technologies. There are well-organized teams for various functions such as vessel traffic management, cargo handling, and customs clearance. Automated systems for tracking and handling cargo enhance overall productivity and smooth operation of the port.

Port Facilities

Berths

Hazira Port is equipped with a number of berths catering to a wide range of vessels. These include deepwater berths for large LNG carriers and container ships. These berths are also fitted with state-of-the-art mooring and docking facilities that ensure safe arrival and departure of the ships. The berths have strong bollards and fenders to withstand the forces exerted by the vessels during docking and undocking.

Cargo-handling Equipment

Specialized pumping and transfer systems are engaged in handling LNG and other liquid cargo, while conveyor systems and grabs are there for bulk cargo. Gantry cranes are used for handling containers efficiently. The cargo-handling equipment is designed to operate with high precision and speed to ensure quick loading and unloading of cargo.

Storage Facilities

The port has spacious storage facilities. For LNG, there are large-scale storages with advanced safety features that include cryogenic insulation and leak-detection systems. There are storage tanks for other liquid cargo with spill containment and fire protection measures. There are also container yards and stockpiles for bulk materials.

Channel and Navigation Aids

The channel of the port is kept at a proper depth and width so that there would be no risk in the safe passage of ships. Dredging is carried out periodically to make it possible for large-draft vessels to navigate. Buoys, beacons, and radar systems are some of the navigation aids installed that allow ships to move into and out of the ports smoothly. The radar system keeps them informed of the actual position and movement of the vessels in the vicinity of the port in real time.

2. Importance of Measuring Ocean Currents in Hazira Port

Safety of Vessel Navigation

Measurement of ocean currents has paramount significance in the safety aspects of ships. The current speed and direction are crucial information required by a ship captain while approaching berths or navigating the channel. A strong cross - current near a berth can render the docking of a ship an arduous task with a possible risk factor. For instance, a vessel approaching a berth against a strong current might have to adjust its speed and angle of approach to ensure smooth and safe docking. Accurate current measurements also enable captains to make better decisions and reduce the risk of collision and other accidents.

Optimization of Port Operations

Current data is vital in the optimization of the port's operations. Tidal currents and other regular flow patterns should be understood to help the port authorities plan for better scheduling of ships in terms of arrival and departure. It would help in efficient use of berths and other resources available at the port. For example, ships can be scheduled to arrive when the currents are favorable; it would speed up the processes of loading and unloading. Besides, knowledge of the prevailing patterns enables better planning of cargo-handling operations, hence increased productivity.

Environmental Considerations

From an environmental point of view, the knowledge of ocean currents is useful in the event of an accidental discharge of pollutants. Since the nature of cargo handled in the port includes LNG and petroleum products, it would be useful to predict the spread of a spill. The current data can help in quick implementation of containment and mitigation measures to minimize environmental damage.

3. Working Principle of ADCPs (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler)

Doppler Principle

ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler effect. An acoustic signal transmitted by the ADCP current meter into the water interacts with the moving particles of water. As the particles of water are moving due to the ocean current, the frequency of the reflected acoustic signal received back by the ADCP flow meter is shifted. According to the phenomenon of the Doppler effect, this shift in frequency is related to the velocity of water flow.

Calculation of Current Speed and Direction

From the magnitude and direction of this frequency shift, the ADCP profiler can determine the speed and direction of the ocean current at various points in the water column. Since it sends out signals at several angles and at multiple depths, it is able to create a profile of the ocean current, showing how the current changes with depth.

ADCP Deployment in the Port

Shipborne ADCP

A shipborne ADCP installed on ships operating in the Hazira Port area sends out continuous acoustic signals into the water below as the ship moves around the port area. The movement of the ship allows the ADCP meter to survey a wide area for current data from different locations. For instance, a research or inspection ship with a shipborne ADCP could make a routine survey of the port and collect data on current patterns over different areas of the port for a proper understanding of the water flow situation.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed at certain fixed locations within the port, like on the seabed near areas of importance for navigation or at the entrance/exit of the port. These ADCPs will continuously monitor the ocean currents at their fixed positions over a long period. The data collected becomes useful in analyzing the regular current patterns in specific areas of the port. For example, a bottom-moored ADCP installed near the entrance can measure the incoming and outgoing currents, thereby giving an idea of the tidal effects and other consistent flow characteristics of that region.

4. Requirements for High - Quality Measurement of Currents in Hazira Port

Equipment Requirements

Material Reliability

For high-quality measurement, the equipment should be designed to resist the harsh marine environment. Seawater contains salts and other chemicals which may cause corrosion after a certain period of time. Additionally, the equipment must deal with pressure changes due to different water depths and also mechanical forces caused by waves and currents. The basic materials used in current-measuring equipment construction should exhibit high resistance to corrosion and mechanical stress.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

Smaller size, lighter weight, and lower power consumption are preferred. The compact size will facilitate installation at any location in the port, whether on board ships, on fixed structures such as piers, or even underwater. The lighter weight makes the installation and transportation easier. Lower power consumption ensures that the equipment can operate continuously for long periods without the need for frequent battery replacements or excessive power supply, which is especially important for long-term monitoring applications.

Cost-effectiveness

Cost is another critical factor: the lower the cost, the more devices the port can deploy to measure currents at more places in the port area.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing of ADCPs is preferably made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has very good corrosion resistance and can support its structure in function and performance even within seawater for a pretty long period of time. It has high strength to weight ratio allowing the construction of a strong yet relatively light casing. For instance, an ADCP current meter fitted with a casing made of titanium alloy will resist such pressures in the deeper parts of Hazira port, where higher water pressures are experienced, and continue to provide correct current measurements.

5. Current Measurement Equipment Selection

Application-Based Selection

Shipborne ADCP

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) that is shipborne will be used if the goal is to make wide-area surveys of the waters in a port when the ship is operating. It can actually cover various parts of the port by making runs with the ship while collecting a huge amount of data to develop a general understanding of the overall current situation in the port. This will be useful in mapping the general patterns of flow and their variations in different areas of the port waters.

Sitting - bottom ADCP

The bottom-moored ADCPs are fitted in a particular position for long-time, fixed-point observation of local area within the port, either due to nearby infrastructure or in complicated current behavior areas. By operating in fixed, place locations, the bottom moor ADCPs will perform constant recordings of the data representing currents continuously in these predetermined locations. It is worthwhile when research about local features or modification in currents over certain extended periods is conducted.

Buoy-mounted ADCP

When it is not possible or convenient to install fixed equipment both on the seabed and on ships, buoy-mounted ADCPs can be employed. They float on the surface of the water and are therefore able to measure currents right from the upper layers of the water column. Their deployment is relatively easy and relocating them is quite easily possible, which makes them a suitable choice for monitoring areas which may be dynamic or which, for some other reasons, are difficult to monitor within the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

The choice of frequency for ADCPs depends on the water depth in Hazira port. For areas with a water depth of up to 70 meters, an ADCP current profiler with a frequency of 600 kHz is usually a good choice as it can provide accurate current measurements in this relatively shallow depth range. When dealing with deeper waters up to around 110 meters, an ADCP profiler with a frequency of 300 kHz is more advisable. And for extremely deep sections of the port with a water depth reaching up to 1000 meters, an ADCP 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 meter 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.