ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Akcansa Ambarli Port

1. Where is Akcansa Ambarli Port?

Akcansa Ambarli Port is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the major ports in the region, strategically positioned along the Sea of Marmara.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port is very big and has a high handling capacity. It has extensive quay walls with a considerable number of berths. These involve everything from containers to bulk cargo, such as grains and ores, and to liquids like petroleum products. The container-handling capacity at the port has grown over time, which makes the port an important facility in international trade in the region.

Routes and Business

Akcansa Ambarli Port links Europe and Asia with various shipping routes that connect it to nearly all ports in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and elsewhere in the world. The firm also exports and imports different goods from every other part of the world. It imports machinery and consumer goods from Europe and, at the same time, exports Turkish goods like textiles, agricultural produce, and chemicals to overseas markets.

The Port operates with an adequate organizational structure which outlines specific procedures. The port management team plans all activities concerning vessels, cargo handling, and warehousing. In other words, the management should work in such a manner that ships would not experience any inconvenience during berthing or un/-loading. There exist effective policies about the safety and security of the port, including its surroundings.

It is a facility-rich port. It has modern container terminals with high-capacity cranes for efficient handling of containers, both inbound and outbound. The port has storage facilities comprising large-scale warehouses for various types of cargo and tanks for liquid cargo. In addition, facilities such as ship repair and maintenance, bunkering, and container storage and transshipment facilities are also offered.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The port channels are well dredged and permit large vessels to pass through the channels. Moreover, the depth of the harbor area and the channels are good enough to accommodate deep-draft ships. Another crucial facility provided by this port is the direct shipping to many ports. The transit times decrease, hence enhancing the port's popularity among shipping lines.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Akcansa Ambarli Port?

For example, measurement of the currents at Akcansa Ambarli is very important; first, regarding safe navigation, currents are strong enough to affect vessels speed and course. Through the precise current measurement patterns, port authorities can offer vessels better guidance for entry and exit maneuvers in and from the ports. This will help avoid accidents such as collisions with quay walls or other vessels, especially during periods of strong or variable currents.

It is also useful in the optimization of port operations. With knowledge of the prevailing velocities, ships can adjust their speeds and routes to minimize fuel consumption. For instance, ships can take advantage of favorable currents to enter or leave the port more quickly, which improves the overall productivity of the port and reduces waiting times for vessels.

Moreover, for the long-term maintenance of the port infrastructure, ocean currents can influence sediment deposition around the port. By monitoring the currents, the port management can better plan dredging activities and take measures to protect the integrity of the port's channels and berths. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) provides a more advanced and convenient method for current measurement compared to traditional techniques.

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

The principle of functioning of ADCP is Doppler. Acoustic signals are sent into the waters by an ADCP. These acoustic waves when encounter some moving particles in water like the suspended sediments, plankton etc, the frequency of reflected waves shifts due to the Doppler effect.

Ship - borne ADCP There might also be mounted ship-borne ADCP's from survey ships, port-service vessels among other available ships in the operational area at Ambarli in this Akcansa Port context. In its travels along water, the ship forwards ADCPs acoustic pulses backward and sideways from the vessel and the frequency shift from the reflected pulses at different depth measure. Analysis of such frequency shifts allows for the calculation of the velocity of the ocean current at different depths. Data is then collected and either used for real-time navigation or stored for further analysis.

Fixed ADCP Fixed ADCPs can be installed on the seabed, on the side of piers, or other fixed structures. These ADCPs continuously emit and receive acoustic signals. They provide a long - term record of the current velocities and directions at a specific location. This data is useful for understanding the local current patterns and any changes that occur over time.

4. What is needed for high-quality measurement of Akcansa Ambarli port currents?

In Akcansa Ambarli Port, some characteristics should exist in the equipment to serve in high-quality current measurement. The materials of the equipment should be reliable. For example, the casing of ADCP is made of titanium alloy preferably. An outstanding feature of this material is the excellent corrosion resistance in the marine environment; it may resist the corrosive influence of seawater for a very long time.

It should be small in size and light in weight. Because an ADCP is small in size and lightweight, not only will its installation on a ship or fixed location installation be easy, but also the load and space it requires is reduced, making it more convenient to use.

Another important factor is low power consumption. Since the equipment has to operate continuously in the port environment, low power consumption allows it to operate for longer periods without the need for frequent battery replacements or excessive energy supply. The cost of the equipment should also be reasonable to allow large-scale deployment for comprehensive current measurement.

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

For proper equipment selection, the choice actually depends on the intended use for current measurement in Akcansa Ambarli Port.

Based on the Installation Type

Ship - borne ADCP: Measuring current by ship movement, its applicability includes ship-borne current or executing surveys over all areas of a port.

Bottom - mounted ADCP: For long-term and fixed-point monitoring of current conditions, especially near critical port structures such as channels and berths, the bottom-mounted ADCP is superior.

Buoy -mounted ADCP: When attention has to be paid to the surface and upper-layer current patterns in the open water area of the port, the buoy-mounted ADCP can be considered.

Based on Frequency

Frequency choice is a function of water depth. An ADCP of 600 kHz can cover water to about 70m, while for shallower areas in the port, a 300 kHz ADCP can be applied up to around 110m and view the main area of the port at a wide range of water depth. A 75 kHz ADCP is designed for much deeper waters, up to 1000m and could be used in an area with huge water depth like at the entrance of the port.

There are well - known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a Chinese brand, China Sonar PandaADCP, is also worth noting. It is made of all - titanium alloy material and offers an excellent cost - performance ratio. You can find more information on its website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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