ADCP's Application in New Mangalore Port for Ocean Current Measurement

1. Where is New Mangalore Port?

Overview of New Mangalore Port

New Mangalore Port is located in the state of Karnataka, India, on the west coast of the country. It is a major port with a significant role in India's maritime trade. The port has a substantial scale and throughput, handling a wide range of cargo including iron ore, petroleum products, fertilizers, and containers.

The shipping routes of New Mangalore Port connect it to various ports across the globe. It acts as an important link in the export of iron ore from mines in that region to other parts of the world and the import of vital goods. The port is managed and operated in a very organized and well-coordinated manner. There are separate teams of vessel traffic management, cargo handling, and other port-related services. Advanced technologies invested in the port for optimization of its operations include automated cargo-handling systems and real-time vessel-tracking software.

Facilities at the Port

Berths: It has several berths, each with its peculiarities. There are facilities to accommodate huge bulk carriers for iron ore and other bulk cargo. These are fitted with heavy mooring systems to cater for the heavy-duty vessels. Other tankers and container ships have their different berths.

Cargo-handling Equipment: On the quay, there are cranes besides other loading-unloading gears. For handling iron ore, there are large-capacity grabs and conveyor systems. For petroleum products, there is a pumping and transfer system. For containers, there are gantry cranes which load and unload containers with efficiency. Storage Facilities: The storage facilities at the Port are vast for various cargos. In the case of iron ore, large-scale stockpiles with proper draining and dust-suppression systems exist. In the case of petroleum products, there are storage tanks with safety features such as spill-containment barriers. There is a container yard and a warehouse for general cargo storage.

Channel and Navigation Aids: The channel in the case of the port is kept to a suitable depth and width to allow the safe passage of ships. Routine dredging operations are put into effect to keep it navigable by large-draft vessels. Provided with aids to navigation such as buoys and beacons, radar systems allow ships to enter or depart from the facility.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in New Mangalore Port?

Importance for the Operation and Management of Ports

Measurements of ocean currents in New Mangalore Port are of utmost importance. First of all, due to vessel navigation safety. Information on directions and speeds of currents is of utmost importance to ship captains while approaching berths or navigating through the channel. For instance, a strong cross - current near a berth can make the act of docking quite tricky. Accurate current measurements allow captains to adjust course and speed in a way that provides a smooth and safe docking, reducing the chance of collisions.

The second reason is that it is a requirement to be performed for the optimization of port operations. Current data allows scheduling the arrival and departure of ships much more efficiently. By knowing the tidal currents and other regular flow patterns, the port can optimize berthing and plan loading and unloading better. It makes things productive by enabling more effective coordination of cargo-handling operations.

From an environmental point of view, the knowledge of currents is useful in the case of a predicted spread of pollutants following the accidental spill. This, in turn, allows taking rapid response actions to contain and mitigate environmental damage from such incidents, considering the nature of cargo handled in this port, which includes petroleum products and chemicals. Keeping in mind these factors, an accurate and convenient measurement method such as Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) represents a highly desirable approach to the measurement of ocean currents in New Mangalore Port.

3. How do ADCPs using the principle of Doppler work?

Measurement Principle

The ADCPs work on the principle of Doppler. When an acoustic signal is emitted by the ADCP flow meter into the water, the signal interacts with the moving water particles. Since the water particles are in motion due to the ocean current, they create a Doppler shift in the frequency of the reflected acoustic signal that is received back by the ADCP profiler. The frequency shift, according to the Doppler effect, has a relation with the velocity of the water flow. By analyzing the frequency shift, the ADCP current meter calculates the speed and direction of the water flow. By emitting signals at multiple angles and different depths, the ADCP meter is able to build a profile of the ocean current, showing how the current varies with depth.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement Methods

Shipborne ADCP: A shipborne ADCP installed on ships operating in the New Mangalore Port area-when the ship moves around the port, continuously emits acoustic signals into the water below. The ship's movement allows the ADCP profiler to cover a wide area and collect current data from different locations. For instance, in the regular patrol of the port by a research or patrol ship outfitted with a shipborne ADCP, it can acquire the current pattern over the entire sections of the port and yield a comprehensive view of the water flow condition.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are deployed in fixed positions inside the port at specific locations, such as on the seabed near important areas of navigation or at the entrance/exit of the port. These ADCPs continuously monitor ocean currents at their fixed positions for a long period of time. This data provides material for analyzing the regular current patterns that exist in certain specific areas of the port. For example, a bottom-moored ADCP at the entrance of the port can continuously measure the inflow and outflow currents, which will help in analyzing the tidal variations and other steady flow features in the area.

4. What's required to measure the New Mangalore port currents with high resolution?

Equipment Requirements

For measurement of the currents in New Mangalore port of high quality, a number of equipment characteristics are important. First is material reliability, where the equipment should bear up to the harsh marine environment that involves seawater corrosion. Salts and some other chemicals may be contained in the seawater, which can corrode materials in a gradual manner. In addition, the equipment must also stand up to changes in pressure by varying depth of the water and mechanical forces related to waves and currents.

Next, the size will be smaller, with a lighter weight and lower power consumption. A compact size allows for easier installation in various locations within the port, whether on ships, fixed structures like piers, or on the seabed. A lighter weight makes both installation and transport easier. Lower power consumption ensures that the equipment can be continuously operational over a very long time without frequent battery replacements, especially in long-term power supplies for monitoring applications.

Cost is another important aspect. For any lower cost, a port can deploy more measuring devices for comprehensive current monitoring in a wider area of the port facility.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing of ADCPs is preferably made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, which means that it can stand at least for the structural integrity and functionality even when in seawater for a pretty long time. Its high strength-to-weight ratio allows the construction of a tough yet comparatively light casing. For example, in the deeper parts of the New Mangalore port where higher water pressures are present, an ADCP current profiler with a titanium alloy casing can effectively withstand these pressures and continue to provide accurate current measurements.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: If the intention is to carry out widescale surveys of the port waters when the ship is in operational service, then shipborne ADCP is a fitting device. It can cover different sections of the port as the ship moves around and be able to collect a vast amount of data in order to provide a holistic overview of the general current situation within the port. It also serves in mapping the general pattern of flow and its variation across different areas of the port waters.

Sitting-Bottom ADCP: Sitting-bottom ADCPs would be more suitable for long-term fixed-point monitoring in certain places in the port, such as around important infrastructures or areas where current behaviors could be very complicated. They could continuously record the current data at those fixed positions and provide valuable insights into the local current characteristics and changes over time.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: when fixed installations on the seabed or aboard vessels are not convenient, buoy-mounted ADCPs can be employed. They float in the water surface and measure the currents of the upper layers of the water column. They are relatively easy to deploy and can be relocated if necessary, making them fit for monitoring certain dynamic or hard-to-reach areas within the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

ADCPs are selected based on the frequency of operation depending on the water depth in New Mangalore port. For areas where the water depth is up to 70 meters, an ADCP profiler with a frequency of 600 kHz will be quite appropriate to measure the current at this relatively shallow depth with acceptable accuracy. For deeper waters, up to about 110 meters, an ADCP meter with a frequency of 300 kHz is more advisable, while for very deep sections of the port with a water depth reaching up to 1000 meters, an ADCP flow meter with a frequency of 75 kHz is recommended for profiling the ocean currents at such great depth.

There are several well - known ADCP current profiler brands in the market, such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, there is also an excellent Chinese ADCP current meter 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.