ADCP in Tarakan Port's Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is Tarakan Port?

Tarakan Port is located in Tarakan, an island city in Indonesia. Tarakan, as mentioned above, is one of the major maritime cities in the region.

Port Scale and Throughput

Scale: The port has a substantial scale with a well-developed infrastructure. It has multiple berths for servicing various kinds of vessels: medium to large-sized cargo ships, tankers, and fishing boats. The quay area is relatively large in size and can be employed to load and unload different types of cargo. Its storage capabilities are massive, as it handles huge volumes of diverse types of cargo: coal, oil, and general merchandise.

Throughput: Its annual throughput is quite high. It is a major port for the export of local resources which include mainly coal and petroleum products. The amount of imports includes machinery, construction materials, and consumer goods for local and regional markets. Through the fishing industry too, its throughput is contributed with significant volumes of fish catches processing and shipping from here.

Routes and Business

Routes: Tarakan Port has very many shipping routes. Domestically, it is connected to other major ports in Indonesia to distribute goods. It has trade connections with other ports in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and more abroad in terms of international connectivity. These are some of the shipping lines that enable the economic activities within the area, exporting local resources and importing commodities that become necessary.

Business: The business operations of the port are multifarious. They vary from cargo-handling related to containers, bulk cargo, and liquid cargo. It also offers warehousing, logistics support, and customs clearance. Oil and gas-related operations comprise refineries and storage tanks around the area of the port. Moreover, in addition, the fishing-related business encompasses fish-processing plants and facilities for the maintenance and docking of fishing vessels.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed through an effective system. The port authority oversees operations such as the scheduling of ships, berth allocation, and cargo-handling operations. They also make use of modern technologies like digital tracking systems for ships and cargo for effective operation. Safety and security are of utmost importance. There are strict safety guidelines laid out to take proper care of ships, cargo, and personnel. The port also takes several security measures to avoid any unlawful activities like smuggling and to ensure the integrity of goods. Environmental protection is also one of the roles of port management, to reduce the impact caused by port activities on the ocean and the surrounding ecosystem.

Port Facilities

Liquid cargo facilities-oil and gas: The port has extended facilities in the handling of liquid cargo, given the connection to oil and gas. This includes pipelines of oil and gas products, storage tanks, and loading arms. There are also safety features that will contain spills and fire protection systems. Container Terminals: The modern quay cranes and gantry cranes are installed at the container terminals. These are high-speed and high-capacity cranes that operate very efficiently to load and unload containers. The storage yards are equipped with modern container-stacking systems that help in efficient stacking and retrieval.

Bulk Cargo Terminals: Besides containers, there exist facilities for handling bulk cargo by means of conveyor belts, stockpiles, and loading equipment coupled with highly efficient and effective systems that eliminate too much spillage of coal and ores.

Facilities Related to Fishing: Fishing is another important activity, hence provision exists for fish-unloading wharves, cold storage facilities for fish, and fish-processing plants.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channels of this port are kept clean and safe to allow hassle-free passage through them by the ships. This port offers direct shipping facilities to regional ports and other International ports as preferred. All these direct connections ensure the competitiveness of the port besides the quick transportation of cargo.

2. Why We Need to Measure Ocean Currents in the Tarakan Port?

Measurement of ocean currents in Tarakan Port is very essential. In the first place, concerning the navigation aspect of ships, their speed and direction depend very much on the ocean currents. With the heavy shipping traffic in both entering and leaving the port, proper current information helps the captains of the ships to arrive at accurate corrections in the speed and direction. This is very important in avoiding collision and in carrying out effective docking and undocking operations. For instance, it has to ensure that big cargo vessels carrying coal do not face any jolts while passing through the waters of ports. The knowledge of currents provides it with adequate assistance.

For cargo-handling purposes, the flow of ocean currents directly influences the efficiency in the loading and unloading process. Unstable or strong currents can make operations concerning cranes and other equipment that handle goods very difficult. By having accurate current measurements, the port can improve the scheduling of cargo-handling operations. For instance, during container handling, the port authority would be in a position to factor in the current state, thereby reducing the waiting times of the ships and, more so, increasing work efficiency.

Finally, in as much as ocean current measurement is key in environmental monitoring. In the event of an oil spill or other pollutants, the current data can predict in which direction and at what speed the contaminants will spread. This way, the port can take preventative and remedial measures on time to prevent causing harm to the marine environment. acoustic doppler flow meter is more advanced and convenient ocean current measuring than traditional methods since it bears more benefits to Tarakan Port operations.

3. How Do ADCPs Using the Principle of the Doppler Work?

Measurement Principle

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) make use of the principle of the Doppler. When an acoustic doppler velocity meter sends an acoustic signal into the water, the signal is scattered by the particles or other substances present in the water. Due to the Doppler effect, the frequency of the scattered signal received back by the acoustic doppler velocity meter will be different than the transmitted frequency since the water particles are in movement with the ocean current. The velocity of the water particles and hence of the ocean current can be calculated by measuring this frequency shift.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement: Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are installed on ships. The acoustic doppler velocity meter will continuously transmit and receive acoustic signals, together with the movements of the ship inside the Tarakan Port area. It is able to measure the current in the ocean at different depths along the path through which a ship is moving. Such data can be used to analyze current conditions in the area in which the ship is sailing to provide valuable information for ship navigation and operations. Besides, a ship may also transit through the port and have an acoustic doppler flow meter onboard. This ship-borne ADCP may also provide real-time data of the current continuously to the captain to make decisions regarding navigation.

Fixed ADCP

The fixed ADCPs are usually installed at fixed points within the Tarakan Port area, such as on pier or buoy moorings. The fixed ADCPs do not move from one location to another but monitor continuously the ocean currents around themselves. They provide long-term and stable current data, which would be useful in understanding the overall current pattern and change development over time in a given port area. To mention an example, one bottom-mounted ADCP current profiler placed near a container terminal will permanently be used to monitor the currents of the area and provide input data for optimization of cargo-handling operations during different tidal and current conditions.

4. What's Needed for Good Measurement of Tarakan Port Currents?

Apparatus Requirement

Material Reliability: The used materials should be very reliable. They have to withstand extreme marine environmental stress, including corrosion caused by seawater, high humidity, and floating impacts. For Tarakan Port, which is highly trafficked with even potentially corrosive environment through substances like oil and others, materials should therefore be more reliable.

Small in size, light in weight, and low in power consumption: The ADCP current profiler represents convenience in installation and operation, particularly for shipborne ones. Low power consumption enables this equipment to work for a long period without frequent battery replacement or high-power supply requirements, important for both fixed and shipborne ADCPs. Installation and operation of equipment must be easy, given the scale of operations at Tarakan Port.

Low Cost for Mass Measurement: Equipment cost should be sufficiently low to enable large-scale current measurement performance in the port. In this way, more than one acoustic doppler flow meter can be deployed at various locations in the port to yield more enhanced current data. Indeed, due to the large area of the Tarakan Port and the finer description of the current mapping, cost-effective equipment is highly desirable.

The benefit of the usage of the titanium alloy for acoustic doppler flow meter casing is that this is a great material for acoustic doppler velocity meter casings. First, it has excellent corrosion resistance, which will effectively withstand the corrosive effect caused by seawater. In the context of Tarakan Port, where the exposure to seawater and other potentially corrosive elements can occur, this is important to make sure the equipment has long-term stability and reliability. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, thus it can provide enough strength but keep the weight relatively low. This is in line with the needs for small size and lightweight, which makes the setup and running operation easier for the acoustic doppler velocity meter. Thirdly, the titanium alloy will maintain good thermal stability, and in such a way, this is great for normal functioning of equipment in different temperature environments in the Tarakan Port area.

5. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

According to the Use Purpose

Shipborne ADCP: When the measurement is done mostly at a ship, then one can use the shipborne ADCP current profiler. It could navigate on with the ship and measure the currents in various areas of the port while going through. In Tarakan Port, shipborne ADCPs could contribute significantly toward providing real-time current information to ships transporting coal, oil, or other goods.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: For long-term fixed-point monitoring of currents at a given point at the Tarakan Port, a sitting-bottom acoustic doppler velocity meter is a good option. Generally it is installed on the seabed and continuously monitors the currents in its surrounding area. For instance, below the entrance of port channels or at the most critical cargo-handling areas, sitting-bottom ADCPs can continuously provide long-term current data.

Buoy - Type ADCP: It is suited such application where real-time monitoring is required in some area of the port. The buoy can float on the water surface and the ADCP profiler on it can measure the currents around it. In areas where there is an immediate need to assess the condition of the current, like near fishing areas or the middle of the port waters, buoy - type ADCPs can really be helpful.

Selection Based on Different Frequencies

Different frequencies of ADCPs are appropriate for different water depths. Meanwhile, 600 kHz ADCP profiler, for example, will be good for water depth within 70 m. It gives more detailed current data in relatively shallow water areas. At Tarakan Port, this may serve in areas near the shore or in shallow parts of the port area. The 300 kHz acoustic doppler flow meter is suitable up to a water depth of 110 m, while the 75 kHz acoustic doppler flow meter has the ability to be applied in much deeper water up to a water depth of 1000 m. In Tarakan Port, different frequencies can then be used to measure currents at slightly different depths according to the actual conditions of the water depth itself, such as in deeper channels or around berths where larger ships would operate.

There are several well - known ADCP current meter 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.