ADCP in Matarbari Port's Ocean Current Measurement

1. Introduction to Matarbari Port

Matarbari Port, considered one of the most significant deep-sea port projects in Bangladesh, is located in the Cox's Bazar district and holds immense potential for maritime trade and economic development in the country.

Location and Geographical Significance

The strategic location of the port in the Bay of Bengal, nearby to the Matarbari power plant project, makes it both an important and crucial infrastructure when it comes to dealing with imported coal to generate power and other goods. It has also been advantageously located not too far from major international shipping lanes, thus providing easy links in trade with countries from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Port Scale and Throughput

Scale: The port is under development, with a mega-scale infrastructure for the port. That will be offering extended quay facilities and would accommodate big-sized vessels like bulk carriers, container ships, and oil tankers. The storage facilities will also be huge, capable of handling a diverse range of cargo that could include coal, containers, and various industrial products.

Throughput: When it ever goes to full functionality, it is expected to experience very high tonnage of throughput. This is expected to handle all the import requirements of the power plant as well as other industries in the vicinity. It will also be handling local produce, farm produce, and manufactured goods that will be locally sourced for export.

Routes and Business

Routes: Matarbari Port is designed to be integrated with the global shipping network. The major ports will be interconnected in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and beyond. Such shipping routes would be major to the import-export trade of goods like coal, machinery, and consumer products.

Business: The predominant business operations will be the cargo-handling services for bulk materials, principally coal, containers and other general goods. This will include warehousing, logistics support, and customs-clearance services. The local industry and social benefits expected from the development of this port also include a positive impact on local industries and employment opportunities.

Port Management and Operation

The port shall be managed on an efficient system. The Port Authority shall organize operations on ship traffic control and berth allocation, cargo-handling procedures. Advanced technologies of automated cargo-handling systems and digital tracking of ships and cargo shall be installed to manage operations.

The safety and security aspects are of utmost importance. Stringent safety regulations shall protect ships, cargo, and personnel. The port shall have broad security features to prevent illegal activities like smuggling and terrorism. Environmental protection is also one of the major focuses to reduce the maritime environmental impact of the port activities in the Bay of Bengal.

Port Facilities

Bulk Cargo Terminals: These would handle the large quantum of coal imports through large-scale bulk cargo terminals, along with high-capacity conveyor belts, stockpiles, and loading equipment. Facilities would be designed for efficient handling with minimum spillage of coal.

Container Terminals: These will be equipped with modern quay cranes and gantry cranes to handle a big volume of containers. The storage yards will be laid out to manage and access the containers without any hassle.

Liquid Cargo Terminals: Depending upon the requirement in the future, there may also be provided facilities for handling liquid cargo. Examples include petroleum products, pipelines, storage tanks, and loading arms.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channels of the port will be dredged and maintained at the proper depth to facilitate large vessels through it. It will facilitate direct shipping to and from major regional and international ports. These direct linkages will give the port greater significance in the context of the international trade and energy supply chain.

2. Need for Measurement of Ocean Currents in Matarbari Port

For the Navigation of Ships: All ocean currents should be measured in order to have safe and efficient navigation of ships. Currents exert a great influence on the speed and course of the ships, especially large ones like bulk carriers and container ships. Due to the fact that Matarbari is a busy port, ship captains will be able to make precise adjustments in regard to their speed and course. This also avoids collision and provides for more efficient docking and undocking. For example, a bulk carrier loaded with coal while approaching a port authority would consider any current to ensure smooth and safe entry.

For Cargo-handling Operations: The ocean currents' flow can considerably affect cargo-handling operations. Strong or unstable currents will raise the difficulty level of operating cranes and other handling equipment with much accuracy. In turn, this can enable the port to schedule better cargo-handling operations by taking into consideration current conditions to minimize waiting times for ships and maximize the efficiency of overall work. In operations relating to the handling of containers or bulk materials, knowledge about the currents will help optimize equipment deployment.

For Environmental Monitoring: In the event of an oil spill or other pollutants, the current data helps in predicting the direction and speed of contaminant spread. This aids the port in taking timely and corrective measures to preserve the marine environment. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) offers a more sophisticated and convenient way of measuring ocean currents compared to other traditional methods; therefore, it is highly beneficial to the operations of Matarbari Port.

3. Operating Principle of ADCPs

Doppler Principle: The principle involved in the operation of ADCPs is the Doppler principle. When a transmitted acoustic signal from an ADCP flow meter enters the water, moving particles and other contents in water scatter the signal. Since the water particles are in motion with the ocean current, the frequency of the back-scattered signal received by the ADCP profiler is different from the transmitted frequency because of the Doppler effect. The velocity of the water particles and hence the ocean current can be calculated from this frequency shift.

Shipborne ADCP: Shipboard ADCPs are installed on ships. The ADCP meter would continue to send and receive acoustic signals while the ship moves in the Matarbari Port area, actually measuring the current at different depths across the path of movement of that very ship. The current conditions in the area in which the ship is sailing can be analyzed using the data collected, which in turn would provide substantial information for ships navigating and operating in those areas. For example, it could be a tanker or a container ship that, based on the current, uses the shipborne ADCP to make changes in course.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are installed at fixed locations in Matarbari Port; on piers or buoys, they stay in place and keep continuous track of the currents in their surroundings. They can provide long-term stable current data, and they are useful to understand the overall features of time-space changes in the current at the port area. For example, a fixed ADCP flow meter near a cargo-handling area can provide important data about the characteristics of the current there and help to optimize the operation of cranes.

4. Requirements for High-Quality Current Measurement in Matarbari Port

Equipment Requirements Material Reliability: It is very vital to have high reliability in materials used in the equipment. They have to be resistant to the harsh marine environment for corrosion by sea water and high humidity, and impacts caused by floating objects. Considering Matarbari Port, due to its exposure to the Bay of Bengal, good quality material is highly crucial for long-term performance.

Small size, light weight, low power consumption: The smaller the size and weight of the ADCP flow meter, the easier installation and operation it will be, especially for shipborne ADCPs. A small capacity allows it to consume a low power supply and keep operating for a longer period without frequent replacement of the batteries or requiring a high-power input, crucial both for fixed and shipborne ADCPs. This calls for ease of installation and operations, given the variety of vessels and installations within the port.

Low Equipment Cost for Mass Measurement: The equipment cost needs to be low enough to enable large-scale measurement of current in the port. In this regard, more ADCPs would be put out in many places at the port to get the data on currents from as many aspects as possible. The need to deal with different areas of the port drives the desire for cost-effective devices.

Benefits Deriving from the Use of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casings

A perfect material for ADCP meter casing is the alloy of titanium. To begin with, this alloy has excellent corrosion resistance and therefore can stand seawater corrosion well. Relating to Matarbari Port, it will mean long-term stability and reliability being guaranteed to the equipment. Second, it has high strength in terms of weight, which can provide enough strength but keep the weight relatively low. This meets the requirements for small size and light weight, facilitating installment and operation. Third, the thermal stability of the titanium alloy is good, providing multiple benefits for the normal operation of the equipment in different temperature environments in the Matarbari Port area. 5. How to Choose Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

Depending on Use Purpose

Shipborne ADCP: If carrying out the measurements mainly on ships, then shipborne ADCP is suitable. It can move along with the ship and it can measure the currents in different areas as the ship navigates. Shipborne ADCPs, especially for ships like bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers, can provide real - time current information for safe navigation at Matarbari Port.

Sitting - Bottom ADCP: For long - term fixed - point monitoring of current at a specific location in the Matarbari Port, sitting - bottom ADCP is a good choice. It is usually installed on the seabed and can continuously monitor the currents in its vicinity. For example, the sitting-bottom ADCPs would be able to provide stable and long-term current data near the entrance of a port or at critical docking areas.

Buoy-Type ADCP: A buoy-type ADCP could be helpful in those applications that require real-time current monitoring in some area of the port. The buoy can float on the water surface while the ADCP flow meter mounted on it measures the currents around itself. In areas like the middle of the port or near liquid cargo terminals, useful information about the current can be given by buoy-type ADCPs.

Selection Based on Different Frequencies

Different frequencies of ADCPs are suitable for different water depths. Such, a 600 kHz ADCP would be appropriate for water depths within 70 m. It is capable of providing more detailed current data in relatively shallow water areas. This would be useful for Matarbari Port near the shore or in those parts of the port where the water could be shallower. In this regard, the 300 kHz ADCP has been suitable for water depth up to 110 m, whereas the 75 kHz ADCP will be suitable for much deeper water-up to 1000 m. These different frequencies enable accurate measurement of currents at different depths in Matarbari Port according to actual water depth conditions.

There are several well - known ADCP doppler brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those looking for cost - effective options, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It is made of all - titanium alloy material and has an incredible cost - performance ratio. You can visit its website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

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