ADCP in Mundra Port: Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is Mundra Port?

Overview of Mundra Port

Mundra Port is situated in Kutch District, Gujarat, India. It is one of the major private ports and among the biggest in the country. The port is highly extensive with a high throughput capacity. It handles a wide range of cargo, including containers, coal, crude oil, and other bulk commodities.

The shipping connectivity of Mundra Port is immense, connecting it to almost all major and minor ports around the world. It serves as a critical hub for international trade in various industries for the importation and exportation of goods. The management and operation of this port are very efficient and integrated with advanced technologies. Well-organized teams for vessel traffic management, cargo handling, and other supportive services are present. Overall efficiency of the port is higher due to automated systems for cargo-handling and digitized channels of communication.

Facilities at Port

Berths: There are several berths in this port, each with different characteristics. Deep-water berths are available to accommodate the latest generation of large container ships and bulk carriers. These berths have heavy mooring facilities to handle these heavy-duty vessels. Besides, there are berths for tankers and other specialized vessels.

Cargo-handling Equipment: The wide range of cargo-handling equipment is used along the quay. There are high-capacity, gantry cranes for containers. The bulk cargoes of coal and ores require conveyor systems and grabs, while for liquid cargos such as crude oil, there should be installed pumping and transfer systems.

Storage Facilities: Huge storage facilities for various types of cargos are also provided. For containers, the facilities are large-scale container yards with a well-planned stacking system. Stockpiles and silos are provided for bulk materials. Liquid cargos are stored in tanks fitted with safety features that include spill-containment and fire-protection systems.

Channel and Aids to Navigation: The channel in the port is kept adequately deep and wide enough to handle ships safely. There is frequent dredging to ensure this can be navigable for large - draft vessels. There are, likewise, aids to navigation, like buoys, beacons, and radar systems, to help direct the ships into and from the port.

2. Why do we need to measure ocean currents in Mundra Port?

Importance for the Operation and Management of Ports

The measurement of ocean currents in Mundra Port is quite significant. First and foremost, it is very vital for the safety of vessels. The knowledge of directions and speeds of currents is highly important for ship captains at an approach to berths or while navigating through the channel. A strong cross-current near a berth may turn the process of docking into a very tricky and hazardous one. Precise current measurements enable the captains to change the course and speed of the ship, making docking smooth and safe, with no possibility of collision.

Second, it enables the optimization of port operations. With current data, scheduling for ships' arrival and departure will be better. Knowing tidal currents and other recurring patterns of flow allows port management to more effectively manage berth allocation and the planning of cargo loading and unloading operations. Productivity gains can be seen in a very practical sense: coordination of cargo-handling operations.

Moreover, from an ecological viewpoint, knowledge of ocean currents allows one to predict the dissemination of pollutants in case an accidental spill occurs. As a number of the goods handled in the port, including potentially hazardous substances like crude oil, this information provides an avenue for immediate action in containing and mitigating the environmental damage. In this regard, an accurate and easy measurement method such as ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) would be very helpful in ocean current measurement at Mundra Port.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

The ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler effect. When an acoustic signal is transmitted by the ADCP meter into the water, it encounters the moving water particles. The water particles, because of the ocean current, are in motion; thus, they cause a frequency shift in the reflected acoustic signal received back by the ADCP profiler. This frequency shift corresponds to the velocity of the water flow according to the Doppler effect. By analyzing the frequency shift, the speed and direction of the water flow can be calculated. By transmitting signals at several angles and at different depths, the ADCP flow meter can develop a 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 operating in the Mundra Port area. As the ship moves around the port, the ADCP current profiler continuously emits acoustic signals into the water below. The movement of the ship means that the ADCP current meter is able to cover a large area and collect current data over a wide area. For instance, if a research or inspection ship fitted with a shipborne ADCP performs a routine survey of a port, it may provide detailed information on current patterns across different parts of the port and give a fair idea of the overall situation with regard to the flow of water.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are deployed in fixed, stationary locations in the port, like on the seabed near important areas of navigation or at the entrance/exit of the port. These ADCPs continuously monitor the ocean currents at their fixed positions over a long period. The data collected is useful for analyzing the regular current patterns in specific areas of the port. For example, a bottom-mounted ADCP at the port entrance would be able to measure currents entering and leaving the port, thus helping to determine the tidal effects and other consistent flow characteristics of that area.

4. What's needed for high-quality measurement of Mundra port currents?

Equipment Requirements

For high - quality measurement of the currents in Mundra port, some of the equipment characteristics are important. First of all, material reliability is very important. The equipment should be resistant to the marine environment and corrosion by seawater. Seawater contains salts and other chemicals that can corrode materials with time. The equipment also needs to resist pressure changes at different water depths and mechanical forces from waves and currents.

Secondly, a smaller size, lighter weight, and lower power consumption are desirable. A compact size allows for easier installation in various locations within the port, whether on ships, on fixed structures like piers, or on the seabed. A lighter weight simplifies the installation and transportation processes. Lower power consumption guarantees the possibility of continuous operation over a long period without often replacing batteries or excessive feeding, which is very important for long-term monitoring applications.

Cost is another important factor: A lower cost allows the port to deploy more measuring devices to have wider current monitoring across different areas of the port.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing of ADCPs is preferably made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, meaning it can maintain its structural integrity and functionality even when exposed to seawater for a long time. Its high strength-to-weight ratio allows building a durable yet relatively lightweight casing. Such a probe, for example, housed in a casing of Titanium alloy, would be able to withstand higher water pressures and keep the current measurement functionality on track at deeper parts of the Mundra port.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: If the aim is to conduct wide-area surveys of the port waters while the ship is in operation, shipborne ADCP will be appropriate. It can cover different sections of the port while the ship moves around, collecting a large amount of data for a comprehensive understanding of the overall current situation in the port. This is useful in mapping the general flow patterns and their variation over different areas of the port waters.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: Sitting-bottom ADCPs are more suitable for monitoring specific locations in the port over long periods, at fixed points, such as in the vicinity of important infrastructure or with complex current behaviors. In this case, they continuously record the current data at the fixed positions, providing valuable local current characteristics and changes at any moment.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: These are used when it is not convenient to install fixed equipment on the seabed or on ships. They float on the water surface and can measure the currents in the upper layers of the water column. They are relatively easy to deploy and can be relocated if needed, making them suitable for monitoring certain dynamic or hard-to-reach areas within the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

The choice of frequency for ADCPs depends on the water depth in Mundra port. For areas with a water depth of up to 70 meters, an ADCP 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. In waters as deep as approximately 110 meters, it would be more advisable to use an ADCP flow meter with a frequency of 300 kHz. For the very deep parts of the port, with water depths reaching up to 1000 meters, an ADCP current meter with a frequency of 75 kHz is highly recommended to ensure reliable profiling of the ocean currents at such great depth.

There are several well - known ADCP 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.