ADCP in Tanjung Kalian Port: Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is Tanjung Kalian port?

Tanjung Kalian port is located in Indonesia. It is a local port, playing an important role in regional maritime activities and trade.

Port Scale and Throughput: It has a rather moderate scale of the port, which handles general cargo from the surrounding countryside: agricultural products such as rice, fruits, and spices; building materials; and other general cargo for the local construction and domestic needs. Throughput is influenced by the agricultural production cycle and local trade demands. The port can handle medium-sized vessels and a number of smaller fishing and cargo boats.

Routes and Business: Tanjung Kalian port is connected with other local ports in the region and also has some connections with ports in nearby islands. The main business activities involve the export of local agricultural produce and the import of essential goods for the local community and industries. Shipping routes support the local economy by facilitating the movement of goods to and from the interior regions.

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

Port Facilities: The port has facilities that suit its operations. It has berths for different types of vessels. There are loading and unloading equipment such as cranes and forklifts to handle the cargo. Adequate storage areas are provided for different goods, including warehouses for dry goods and some cold-storage facilities for perishable items. There are also basic facilities for ship repair and maintenance.

Channels and Direct Routes: The channels in the Tanjung Kalian port are maintained for safe navigation. Dredging operations are often performed to retain the depth. Direct routes connect it to other important regional ports, facilitating goods transportation and promoting local trade.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Tanjung Kalian port?

The measurement of the ocean currents in Tanjung Kalian port is necessary for several reasons. Firstly, it is important for vessel safety. The local fishing boats and cargo vessels need to know the current patterns to ensure safe navigation. Unfavorable currents may be dangerous for these vessels during docking, undocking, and while at sea. With the measurement of the currents, the port can provide the captains with valuable information to avoid accidents.

Second, for the effective functioning of the port: The present understanding of the patterns aids in the best utilization of port facilities. For instance, it will help in planning the best sites for cargo handling and storage by considering the flow of currents for the same purpose. This would translate to better loading and unloading of goods, thereby reducing time and cost involved in the operations at ports.

In addition, for environmental management, recent measurements are also very relevant. They can give insight into the transport of sediments and the dispersion of pollutants in the port area. This information is indispensable for maintaining a healthy marine environment and for the planning of dredging and other coastal protection activities. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) provides a more advanced and convenient way to measure these currents compared to traditional methods.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

The basic principle of operation of an ADCP current meter is the Doppler effect. It sends out acoustic signals into the water. The particles in water moving with the current scatter these signals. Due to the Doppler effect, the frequency of the reflected signal from the moving particles changes.

Ship-borne ADCP: The ADCP current profiler installed on a vessel is used when a ship-borne ADCP is applied in the Tanjung Kalian port. While the ship moves, the ADCP 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 to calculate the velocity of the water current at different depths. In this way, it enables profiling of the current structure while the ship is in motion through the area.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs can be installed on structures such as piers or buoys. They continuously transmit acoustic signals in a downward-looking direction. The reflected signals are analyzed for the Doppler shift. By continuously monitoring the current in one location, fixed ADCPs can provide a long-term record of the current velocity and direction, which is useful to understand the current behavior near the port entrance or other critical areas.

4. What is necessary for high-quality measurement of the currents of Tanjung Kalian port?

For high-quality measurement of currents in Tanjung Kalian port, the equipment requires reliable materials. By nature and vessels in the port, the design needs to be of small size and lightweight for ease of installation on ships and fixed structures.

It is also required to make it consume relatively low power, especially for those fixed ADCPs, considering they usually work non-stop every day and year. Last but not least, cost-effectiveness is indispensable to ensure that these measurement functions could be provided at different measurement points of the harbor, relevantly corresponding to a rather thin economic scale. Application of corrosion-resistant material- titanium alloy for the casing provides excellent properties of corrosion protection in saltwater. Saltwater in the port can cause corrosion to ordinary metals.

Titanium alloy withstands the corrosive effects of seawater and ensures long-term durability of the equipment. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, which is very helpful in reducing the overall weight of the device while maintaining its structural integrity.

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

Based on Usage

Ship-borne ADCP: This is suitable for when you want to measure currents during the movement of a vessel. In the Tanjung Kalian port, it can be used by fishing boats and cargo ships to measure the current along their path, helping in navigation and operational decisions.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: Ideal for long-term and fixed-point monitoring of currents near the seabed. At the port, it could be used to monitor current behavior at particular places like near the berths or around underwater structures.

Buoy-based ADCP: When the goal is to monitor currents in one area over a long period, while having some flexibility in location, one can use a buoy-based ADCP. In Tanjung Kalian port, this will be installed in locations that are not commonly crossed by ships but are relevant for overall understanding of the current pattern.

Based on Frequency

In general, an ADCP flow meter of 600kHz frequency would be appropriate for waters up to 70m deep. For 110m, a 300kHz frequency is more suitable. For very deep waters up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP is the better option.

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.