ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Cartagena Port

1. Where is the position of the Cartagena Port?

Cartagena is a city on the southeastern coast of Spain, and the Port of Cartagena is a major facility in the Mediterranean.

Scale of Port and Throughput

The Port of Cartagena is big. Minerals, chemicals, and general merchandise are some of the cargo that pass through this facility. The flow is very high, since shipment and arrival of goods in this port are continuous. It is an important connecting point for regional industries that depend on sea transport to bring in their raw materials and send out their products.

Routes and Business

The harbor enjoys a vast array of shipping lines with its direct links to all Mediterranean and worldwide ports. This business largely imports and exports finished and raw products alike for various industries. Other services rendered at the harbor are for goods consigned or meant for energy, mining industries. The cruises which touch the harbor give good foreign exchange to local economies as a tourism resource also.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by a number of professionals who ensure that operations run smoothly in terms of effectiveness and safety. The management oversees berthing, the processes of handling cargo, and the security provided within the area. Advanced management systems ensure the best possible use of resources, allowing for easy and smooth flow at the port with respect to incoming and outgoing ships and cargo. The port follows tight environmental regulations regarding its impact on the surrounding environs.

Port Facilities

It is a port that has been complemented with numerous facilities: deep-water berths that are in a position to receive bulk carriers and container ships; modern cargo-handling equipment such as cranes that can load and unload containers, conveyor belts that carry bulk cargo, and storage facilities for different kinds of cargo-liquids in storage tanks and warehouses for dry goods.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of the port is kept at a proper draft so that the ships can pass through it safely. It has direct shipping links with most of the major ports in the Mediterranean and beyond, which facilitates the transportation of goods quickly and reduces the time and cost of transit.

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

Measurement of sea currents in Cartagena Port is important in several ways; this is basic for safe navigation with ships-meaning the knowledge about the current pattern will assist the captains or pilots in such a way that it will be able to affect entry and exit from the port. Precise current information would enable the masters to make a better-informed decision to avoid collision in order to assure the safety of vessels and structures in the harbor.

Second, ocean currents may affect the stability of loading and unloading regarding cargo handling. For instance, during operations using floating cranes or any other equipment near the water surface, the effect of currents should be considered to ensure that the handling of cargo is both accurate and efficient.

Thirdly, the understanding of ocean currents is crucial in the prediction of sediment transport and hence maintenance of the depth in the channels and berths of the port. Currents measured regularly contribute to valuable data on dredging operations besides ensuring long-term functionality.

It is more advanced and convenient in measuring ocean currents compared to traditional methods. This can give the port real - time and multi - depth current data that is so much needed for operation and management of the port facility.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Working principles of ADCPs are based on the Doppler effect. Transducers of an ADCP current meter send acoustic signals through the water. In turn, moving particles or other fractions moving with water flow scatter those signals. If these acoustic signals have been reflected, due to the Doppler effect, the frequency of the reflected signals has altered. The same is used for the determination of velocity by calculation of this shift in frequency.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are mounted on ships. During the movement of the ship within the area of the port, the ADCP current profiler sends acoustic pulses downwards and sideways. These pulses measure the current velocity at different depths along the path where the ship has moved. The data is then sent to the real - time control system of the ship to enable the crew to change course or speed.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are deployed in fixed locations at the bottom or side of the structure in a port. They monitor the ocean currents at that particular area continuously. The data from the fixed ADCPs gives the long-term understanding of the current patterns in the port, which is useful for port planning and infrastructure maintenance.

4. What is needed for good measurement of the currents in the port of Cartagena?

The equipment will have to be made of resistant materials that could easily resist all types of aggressive actions from seawater, including corrosion, and also provide resistance to changes in pressure. In this respect, small size, less weight, and low power consumption are very desirable properties. A compact size allows for easier installation in different parts of the port, while low power consumption ensures longer-term operation without frequent battery replacements or power supply problems. Cost-effectiveness is also important to enable large-scale deployment of the measurement equipment.

The casing of ADCP profiler is preferably made of titanium alloy. This is because of its excellent corrosion resistance, which means it will not be damaged in seawater even after a long period of time. Besides this, it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning that it could bear high pressure without adding excessive weight. Furthermore, it is biocompatible with a minimal impact on the marine environment.

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

Usage Purpose

• Shipborne ADCP: It is suitable for measuring currents during the movement of ships. This provides real-time data on current conditions while the ship is sailing in the port and thus useful to be used for navigation and operational safety.
• Sitting-bottom ADCP: it is ideal in the case of long-term monitoring of a fixed-point area in a port. Provides a continuous view of current status in such a location; this is really useful for the understanding of the long term current patterns at that location and essential for the long-term maintenance of infrastructure in ports.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: This will be useful in places where it is not practical to install fixed equipment on the seabed or aboard ships. The buoy-mounted ADCP is capable of floating on the water surface and measuring the currents around it, hence allowing a great deal of flexibility in measurement locations.

According to Different Frequencies

• For up to 70m water depth, the ADCP can go to a 600kHz device to ensure adequate current measurement even in fairly shallow water.
• A 300kHz unit would be most appropriate for around 110m for being effectively able to measure the current.
• In open deep waters up to 1000m, it would be better to have current measurement through a 75kHz ADCP in a reliable manner.

There are well-known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is also a great option. It is made of all-titanium alloy material and offers an excellent 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.