ADCP in Ocean Current Measurement of Hong Kong Port

1. Where is Hong Kong Port?

Hong Kong Port is situated in Hong Kong, an administrating division of China. It is a world-class deep-water harbor with a strategic location at the mouth of Pearl River Delta.

Scale of Port and Throughput

Hong Kong Port is of enormous size. It encompasses several container terminals and other facilities for handling cargo. It generally achieves very high throughputs, handling a million or more containers annually. It is one of the busiest containerised ports in the world. In addition to containers, it handles other cargo items such as bulk cargo and break-bulk cargo. This is the throughput at the port, which is an important contributory factor within the global supply chain, forming a vital part of the regional economy.

Routes and Business

The port is interconnected about with a vast volume of shipping routes. Major ports around the world are connected with the port. It acts as a transshipment hub for cargo that is being transported from Asia to other continents and vice-versa. Business operations of Hong Kong Port are very diversified, ranging from container shipping and logistics services to value-added services like warehousing and distribution.

Port Management and Operation

Hong Kong Port has a very organized and effective system wherein the port authority is allowed to manage the entry and exit of ships by booking their berth and cargo handling. The port should be implemented with advanced technologies and management methods to ensure smooth operations. Safety and security have been given due importance to protect the infrastructure in the port along with the goods that are being handled.

Port Facilities

It is a modern facility port. It has deep-water berths with the capacity to take the world's biggest container ships and any other vessels. Advanced quay cranes and gantry cranes for the most efficient container loading and unloading operations are installed in the container terminals. Large areas were used as storage and logistic facilities in support of the movement and storage of goods.

Channel and Direct Shipping

Hong Kong Port has well-maintained channels with good enough depth to ensure smooth ship passage. Most of the major ports of the world are offered direct shipping services from here. In general, these direct connections raise competitiveness and the role that the port plays as an international trade facilitator.

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

Impact on Ship Navigation

Accurate measurement of the ocean currents in Hong Kong Port has important implications for the navigation of ships. This is because currents can affect speed and course whether entering or leaving the port area. In Hong Kong, with its high volume of shipping traffic, such an understanding of the current conditions will enable captains of ships to make more informed decisions about adjustments in speed and course for safer navigation. It will also help in preventing collisions and other navigation-related accidents.

Influence of Currents on Cargo Handling

Cargo handling operations may also be influenced by the flow of ocean currents. The heavy flow of containers and other cargo in a busy port like Hong Kong is an around-the-clock process, while strength and direction may occasionally give cranes and other handling equipment a problem in operation. With the measurement of currents, the port is better able to plan cargo-handling operations in order to minimize the waiting time for vessels and hence develop better efficiency in the work aspect.

Role in Environmental Monitoring

Ocean current measurement assists in environmental monitoring at the Hong Kong Port area. Currents are influential in the dispersion of pollutants like oil spills and other contaminants. With correct current information, one could forecast the direction of pollutant dispersion and take needed preventative and corrective actions to minimize harm to the marine environment. This is far more sophisticated and easier to handle than the old methods of ocean current measurement; hence, it is very suitable for use at Hong Kong Port.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

The principle involved in Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) is the Doppler principle. The ADCP profiler sends out an acoustic signal through the water, which experiences scattering by particles or any other substances present within the water. These water particles are moving with the ocean current; hence, the scattered signal that reaches the ADCP current meter carries a frequency different from the transmission frequency, according to the Doppler effect. By measuring this frequency shift, the velocity of the water particles and hence the velocity of the ocean current is determined.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement: Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are mounted on ships. While the ship moves in the Hong Kong Port area, the ADCP current profiler sends and receives acoustic signals continuously. The ocean currents at each depth, while the ship cruises, can be measured. The data can be used to analyze current conditions in the area in which the ship is sailing, hence it will provide useful information for the navigation and operations of ships.

Fixed ADCP

The usual mounting positions of fixed ADCPs in Hong Kong Port include pier or buoy installations. These fixed ADCP doppler stand still and monitor the ocean currents at their surroundings continuously. This way, the long-term and stable current data could be obtained, which helped to develop the understanding of the general current patterns and changes of the Hong Kong Port area over time.

4. What is required for high-quality measurement of Hong Kong Port currents?

Equipment Requirement

It has to meet the basic requirements for high-quality measurement of currents in Hong Kong Port.

Material Reliability

The materials used in such equipment must be highly reliable. The equipment must withstand the harsh marine environment comprising direct and indirect corrosion from seawater, high humidity, and impacts from floating objects.

Small Size, Light Weight, and Low Power Consumption

A small-sized and lightweight ADCP is useful for installation and operation, which is particularly important for shipborne ADCPs. Low power consumption allows the equipment to operate over a long period without frequent battery replacement or a high-power supply, important in both fixed and shipborne ADCP flow meter.

Low Cost for Mass Measurement

This would mean that the cost of the equipment should be comparatively cheap so that several ADCPs could be installed at different locations inside the port to gather more data on currents.

The Advantage of Using Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The substrate material of the ADCP casing is superior and one of the best: Titanium alloy. It has an excellent corrosion resistance which can put up with the corrosive surrounding seawater. It also enjoys a high strength-to-weight ratio, which means a sufficient strength can be guaranteed with low weight to meet the small size and light weight requirements.

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

Purpose of Use According to the Use Purpose When choosing equipment for measuring current in Hong Kong Port, one considers its use purpose.

Shipborne ADCP

If the measurement is going to be mainly during a voyage, then shipborne ADCP is appropriate. It could move along with the ship hence measuring the current conditions of other areas of the port.

Sitting - Bottom ADCP

For long-term fixed-point monitoring of current at a specified location in the Hong Kong Port, sitting bottom ADCP is a very good choice: It should generally be installed on the seabed and can monitor the current continuously in its vicinity.

Buoy - Type ADCP

Buoy-type ADCP suits the purpose of applications requiring real-time monitoring of the current in a certain area of the Hong Kong Port. The buoy can float on the water surface while the ADCP on it measures the current around it.

Selection Based on Different Frequencies

Different frequencies of ADCP meter suit different water depths. With a different frequency, the velocity profiles over widely ranging depths can be obtained. For instance, 600 kHz ADCP is appropriate if the water depths are within 70 m; in this way, it will result in more detailed data about the currents in the relatively shallow water areas. 300 kHz ADCP is appropriate for water as deep as 110 m, while 75 kHz ADCP is suitable for water as deep as 1000 meters. It allows the correct measurement of currents at various depths in Hong Kong Port for realistic water depth conditions.

Some of the popular brands include Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. For something cheaper, I would like to recommend a Chinese company-China Sonar PandaADCP. The material used is all titanium alloy. In addition, it is so great for this cost. You can pay a visit at https://china-sonar.com/.

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