ADCP in Pangkal Balam Port: Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is Pangkal Balam port?

Pangkal Balam port is situated in Indonesia. It forms an important part of the marine facilities that also cater to other local areas and nearby regions.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port is of average size. It deals in various cargo items, mainly local agricultural products like palm oil, fruits, and spices, as well as construction materials and general cargo. The throughput is affected by the local agricultural production and trade demands. The port can accommodate medium - sized vessels and a number of smaller fishing and cargo boats.

Routes and Business

Pangkal balam Port is linked to other nearby ports, but there is minor link development of routes to nearby region ports. For instance, it deals directly in exports such as crops and the importation of key essentials for local populations and its industry. These shipping routes remain imperative in this regard in driving the economy by transporting products to and from the area known as the hinterland.

Port Management and Operation

The port management focuses on efficient operations. The port authority oversees vessel docking, cargo handling, and storage. They implement strategies to optimize the use of port facilities and resources. Safety and security are also priorities, with measures in place to handle emergencies and protect the port infrastructure and cargo.

Port Facilities

The port has facilities suitable for its operations. It has the capacity to accommodate various types of vessels through its berths. Other facilities include loading and unloading equipment, such as cranes and forklifts, to handle cargo. Adequate storage areas are provided for various goods, including warehouses for dry goods and cold storage for perishable items. There are also basic facilities for ship repair and maintenance.

Channels and Direct Routes

The channels in Pangkal Balam port are kept for safe navigation of vessels. These are dredged regularly to maintain depth. The direct routes link it with other major ports in the region. This facilitates the transportation of goods and promotes local trade.

2. Why measure the ocean currents in the Pangkal Balam port?

Measurement of ocean currents in Pangkal Balam is very important on several issues: safety of vessels, local fishing boats, and cargo ships. Their captains will have to know the pattern of currents in order for safe navigation. Unfavorable currents can endanger these vessels during the time of docking and undocking, and at sea. The measurement enables the Port to provide information to the captains that will be very useful for preventing accidents.

Second, this helps in efficient functioning of the port. Knowledge of existing patterns helps in the effective utilization of the port facilities. For instance, it may facilitate locating the most suitable sites for handling and storing cargoes according to the flow of currents. This would make the process of loading and unloading goods much easier, saving time and expenses in port operations.

Besides, the contemporary measurements are of great use from an environmental point of view. They can provide information on the movement of sediments and the dispersion of pollutants in the port area, which is necessary for maintaining a healthy marine environment and for planning dredging and other coastal protection activities. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) allows making these measurements in a more advanced and convenient way than it was possible with traditional techniques.

3. How Do Doppler Principle ADCPs Work?

ADCPs are based on the Doppler effect. An ADCP current meter sends out acoustic signals into the water. Particles in the water are carried along by the current. They shift frequency as they reflect back because of the Doppler effect.

Ship-borne ADCP

When a ship-borne ADCP is used in the Pangkal Balam port, it is installed on a vessel. As the ship moves through the water, the ADCP flow meter emits acoustic pulses either in a downward - looking or side - looking direction. The reflected signals from the water column are received and analyzed. The Doppler shift in these signals is used for calculating the velocity of the water current at different depths. Therefore, this allows the current structure profiling while the ship travels through the area.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs can be mounted on structures such as piers or buoys. They emit acoustic signals in a downward direction continuously. The reflected signals are then analyzed for the Doppler shift. Thereby, fixed ADCPs can provide a long record of the current velocity and direction by continuously observing the current in one location for areas such as near the entrance or other critical areas of interest.

4. What's necessary for high-quality measurement of Pangkal Balam port currents?

High-quality current measurement in Pangkal Balam port would be afforded by the use of equipment with reliable materials. Given the nature of the port and vessels operating therein, small size, and lightweight is of essential benefit as it provides convenience for installation on both ships and fixed structures.

Low power consumption is also crucial, especially for fixed ADCPs that have to operate continuously. Cost-effectiveness is an important factor too, in view of the economic scale of the port and the need for multiple measurement points.

The casing of ADCP current profiler is preferably made from titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, which is highly desirable in a marine environment. Saltwater in the port can corrode ordinary metals. Titanium alloy is resistant to the corrosive effect of seawater, hence allowing the equipment to last for a long time. The high strength-to-weight ratio is very helpful in maintaining structural integrity by reducing the overall weight of the device.

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

Based on Usage

Ship-borne ADCP: It will be appropriate for the case when one wants to measure the current while the vessel is in motion. In Pangkal Balam, this instrument could be installed on fishing boats or other cargo ships to measure the current across their route for navigation and operational purposes.

Bottom-mounted ADCP: Suitable for applications requiring long-term and fixed-point monitoring of currents near the seabed. In a port, it may be applied to monitor the current behavior at hotspots such as near the berths or around underwater structures.

Buoy-based ADCP: This is used when the purpose is to monitor currents in a specific area over a long period, with some flexibility in location. In Pangkal Balam port, it can be placed in areas where ships may not frequently pass but are still important for understanding the overall current patterns.

Based on Frequency

For waters up to 70m deep, the ADCP profiler with a frequency of 600kHz usually would suffice. In cases with depths of about 110m, a 300kHz frequency is more appropriate. Very deep waters of up to 1000m are better observed using the 75kHz ADCP.

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.