ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Calapan Port

1. Where is Calapan Port?

The location of the Calapan Port is in the City of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro in the Philippines.

Scale of the Port and Throughput

It is a large regional port with an ever increasing scale. It is one of the important links to and from the island of Mindoro for goods transportation. The variety of cargo handled at the ports ranges from agricultural products to construction material and consumer goods. Throughput has been on the rise with the expansion of the local economy and development of trade relations. The port also plays an important part in the movement of passengers, especially ferry services that are a major part of the operations.

Routes and Business

The following are the ports in the Philippines to which Calapan Port is connected: domestically well-connected to major ports in Luzon and other islands, allowing the transport of goods and people. It is a major hub for the local fishing industry, with fishing vessels making it their base. It also trades for handicrafts and other local products, showing business and tourism in the area.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by the local port authorities responsible for the efficiency and safety of the port. They oversee operations such as vessel traffic control, berthing arrangements, and cargo handling. They also engage in improving port infrastructure and coordination with other maritime agencies for smooth operations and security.

Port Facilities

These are represented in the inclusion of numerous berths, which are well-capable of accommodating different kinds of vessels; storages for cargo, which includes warehouses and open-air storage yards; facilities that enable vessels to refuel alongside any other kind of service. Again, the facility contains loading and unloading appliances such as cranes and fork lifts, which help move the goods in and out of their vessels.

Channel and Direct Navigation

The Calapan Port has a well-defined channel that allows the safe navigation of vessels. The channel is maintained to ensure sufficient depth and width, taking into account tidal changes. There are navigational aids such as buoys and lights to guide ships entering and leaving the port, enabling direct navigation and reducing the risk of accidents.

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

Measurement of ocean currents in Calapan Port will be highly important for certain reasons: first, it is of great importance in terms of the safety of vessels during berthing and mooring. It provides appropriate direction and speed of the ocean current, thus helping the port operators plan the best time to berth vessels and help them prevent collision incidents; hence, stability in a vessel during docking is obtained.

Secondly, it helps in the optimization of shipping schedules. Currents can either assist or impede the movement of ships. With accurate current measurements, shipping companies can plan their arrivals and departures more efficiently, taking advantage of favorable currents to save fuel and time.

In addition, knowledge of ocean currents is important in the fishing industry. Currents determine the distribution of fish and other marine resources. Current data can be used by fishermen to locate areas with higher concentrations of fish, thereby increasing their productivity.

Current measurements at present are of immense use from a port infrastructure viewpoint, which helps in the design and maintenance of the structures in the ports. Currents exert forces on quay walls, piers, and other structures, influencing their durability and stability. Measurement of these currents with ADCP profiler is more effective and efficient than the methods used previously.

3. How do the Doppler Principle ADCPs work?

The principle behind ADCPs is the Doppler effect. It sends acoustic signals into the water. In case the acoustic waves reflect off particles moving in water-for instance, suspended sediments or small organisms-the frequency of the reflected waves changes due to the Doppler effect.

The ADCP measures the frequency shift of the reflected signals to determine the velocity of the moving particles, from which it calculates the velocity of the ocean current.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are mounted on ships. During the movement of the ship, the ADCP current meter sends out acoustic pulses in different directions normally downwards and to the side. It measures the current velocities along the track of the ship at different depths. The data can be used to map the current field in the port area during the movement of the ship.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are deployed at a few locations in the port, say, on the bottom or on fixed structures such as piers. Continuous measurement of ocean currents is performed at that position and varied with time. This will provide long-term and continuous information on the status of currents at positions considered key around the port area.

4. What is the requirement for high-quality measurement in Calapan port currents?

The equipment should be manufactured from materials that can ensure high-quality measurement of the ocean currents in Calapan Port. Equipment for the measurement of current must be able to face every possible situation: destruction caused by seawater corrosion, high pressures developed by different levels, and impacts by floating debris.

Besides that, it should have a small size and be lightweight. This would help in installation on vessels or fixed structures where there is little space. Also, a low power consumption is necessary for long-time operation without frequent battery replacement or excessive energy supply requests.

A low cost is also necessary for large-scale measurement. The casings made of titanium alloy are suitable for ADCPs. Since, titanium alloy has outstanding corrosion resistance and can withstand high pressure and it has a good strength-to-weight ratio.

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

Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: If interest exists in a broad view of the flow profile within the port for various vessel traffic, shipborne ADCPs have an application. Several locations within the port can be covered since a ship moves around.

Bottom-mounted ADCP: Long-term and continuous monitoring of the current conditions at specific fixed locations call for bottom-mounted ADCPs. They can provide stable data over an extended period.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: When the measurement of currents is not possible with fixed installations or ships in an area, buoy-mounted ADCPs can be used.

Within water depths of 70 meters, a 600 kHz ADCP should serve well.

Water with depths up to 110 meters calls for a 300 kHz ADCP.

A 75 kHz ADCP would serve better for much deeper waters as deep as 1000 meters.

There are famous ADCP brands: Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. Furthermore, one may consider the China sonar PandaADCP, a Chinese brand. It is all titanium alloy material and very worth considering for value. More over one can see at this website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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