ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Casablanca Port

1. Where is Casablanca Port?

Casablanca Port is located on the western coast of Morocco, along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest port in Morocco and one of the most important ports in North Africa.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port of Casablanca is vast in scale. It has many berths, accommodating all types of vessels, from container ships to bulk carriers. The annual throughput of the port is high. It deals with a large volume of containerized cargo, bulk commodities such as minerals, grains, and petroleum products. Every year, it deals with millions of tons of cargo, playing a vital role in Morocco's international trade. It is a major exporter of phosphates and an important hub for imports in consumer goods, machinery, and energy products.

Routes and Business

The Casablanca Port enjoys a very strong network of routes. The port has good connectivity to major ports within Europe, the Americas, and the rest of Africa. These routes open up business operations for the port. Regular container services connect it with ports in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom to carry on trade with the European Union. Routes also exist toward the east coast of the United States, which is vital for import and export purposes for a variety of goods. Part of its trading activities includes general cargo handling, containerized freight, storage, and transshipment of bulk materials.

Port Management and Operations

The port is handled by professional authorities in Morocco's port. These authorities see to the activities of the smooth running of vessel traffic control, which includes the normal handling of cargo regulations and modern management techniques and technologies within the port premises for better utilization of available resources. Well-trained personnel handle this, proficient with various types of cargo and vessel handling. The port also observes international safety and environmental standards in its daily operations.

Port Facilities

Casablanca Port has state-of-the-art facilities. There are modern container terminals with high - capacity gantry cranes that can efficiently load and unload containers. The bulk cargo terminals are equipped with specialized handling equipment for different types of bulk materials, such as conveyor belts for grains and loading arms for liquid products. Large - scale storage facilities include warehouses for general cargo and open storage areas for bulk goods. There are also ship repair and maintenance facilities, which can service vessels of various sizes.

Channels and Direct Navigation

The port has deep and wide navigable channels. Such channels are regularly dredged to provide a sufficient depth for large vessels. Casablanca Port has direct shipping routes to most of the important international ports. The direct navigation minimizes the transit time for goods passing through the port, thus raising the competitiveness of the port in the global shipping market. The trade between Morocco and its trading partners around the world is absolutely seamless.

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

Measuring ocean currents in Casablanca Port is of great significance for the port's operation and management.

Safe Vessel Navigation

Ocean currents can have a profound impact on vessel navigation. In Casablanca Port, where a large number of vessels enter and exit daily, accurate knowledge of current patterns is essential. Currents can affect a ship's speed, course, and maneuverability. For example, high currents are a problem in berthing as well as unberthing vessels. When the ocean currents can be measured, then ship pilots can plan their routes much better and adjust their speed to avoid probable collisions with other vessels or some structures within the ports.

Efficiency of Cargo Handling

Ocean currents are another factor related to the efficiency of cargo handling in the port. Negative currents can easily offset the alignment of the vessels with berths, causing difficulties in running cargo-handling equipment. This knowledge helps operators schedule cargo-handling operations when the current conditions are the best. The consequences of this might be increased efficiency, less time spent waiting at the dock by vessels, and a more productive port in the long run.

Coastal Erosion and Sedimentation

Ocean currents play a role in coastal erosion and sedimentation processes near the port. Monitoring these currents helps in understanding how sediment is transported along the coast. In Casablanca Port, this information is crucial for the long - term planning of coastal protection measures. By judging the current information at the abnormal level of sedimentation occurring in port channels, necessary dredging work can be taken with proper operations at hand. Hence, the sustainability of the ports is maintained. Its infrastructure does not get compromised due to dredging.

Among the methods of measuring ocean currents, the ADCP profiler method is more sophisticated and convenient. It can supply real-time, high-resolution data on ocean currents, which will be useful in the effective management of Casablanca Port.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Principle of ADCP Measurement

The ADCPs are based on the Doppler principle. When an ADCP flow meter sends an acoustic signal into the water, the signal bounces off small particles suspended in the water column, such as suspended sediment, plankton, or bubbles. If these particles are moving with the flow of the water, the frequency of the reflected signal will be different from the frequency of the emitted signal. This frequency shift, known as the Doppler shift, is directly proportional to the velocity of the particles (and thus the water flow) along the direction of the acoustic beam.

ADCPs typically have multiple acoustic beams (usually three or four). These beams are oriented at different angles relative to the vertical. By measuring the Doppler shifts of the reflected signals from each beam, the ADCP current profiler can calculate the three - dimensional velocity components of the water flow at different depths. For example, the vertical beam can measure the vertical velocity of the water, while the angled beams can be used to determine the horizontal velocity components through trigonometric calculations.

ADCP in Port Current Measurement-Specific Methods

Ship-borne ADCP

A ship-borne ADCP is installed on a moving vessel. As the vessel sails through the port area, the ADCP continuously measures the ocean currents at different depths along the ship's track. This method is useful for obtaining a broad-scale view of the current patterns in the port. It can rapidly survey large areas of the port to provide general directions and velocities for current mapping. For instance, it can be applied in producing sections where strong and weak currents occur as well as where there are big changes in the direction of the current.

Stationary ADCP

The stationary ADCPs are mounted permanently in fixed locations within the port such as on the seabed or on some port structures. These devices provide continuous and long - term measurements of the ocean currents at a particular point. Fixed ADCPs are valuable for monitoring the long-term trends of current patterns, such as seasonal variations in current speed and direction. They can also be used to calibrate and validate the data obtained from ship-borne ADCPs. For instance, a fixed ADCP installed near a berth can provide detailed information about the local current conditions that affect vessel berthing operations.

4. What’s needed for high-quality measurement of Casablanca Port currents?

Equipment Requirements

Material Reliability

For high-quality current measurements in Casablanca Port, the material of the ADCP is of utmost importance. The casing of the ADCP should be made of a highly reliable material. Titanium alloy is an excellent choice for the casing. Titanium alloy has several advantages. Firstly, it has outstanding corrosion resistance. The harsh marine environment of Casablanca Port, with its salt - laden seawater, can cause significant corrosion to equipment. Titanium alloy can withstand this corrosion, ensuring the long - term durability of the ADCP. Secondly, it has high strength - to - weight ratio. This means that it can maintain its structural integrity while being relatively lightweight, which is beneficial for both ship - borne and fixed installations.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

The ADCP current meter should be small in size and light in weight. A compact size makes it easier to install in different locations, whether on a ship or at a fixed site in the port. A lightweight design reduces the impact on the installation platform, especially for ship - borne applications where the weight of the equipment can affect the vessel's stability. Additionally, low power consumption is crucial, especially for fixed - installed ADCPs that may rely on battery power or a limited power supply. Low - power ADCPs can operate continuously for long periods without the need for frequent power replacements or recharges.

Cost-effectiveness

For large-scale measurements in Casablanca Port, the cost of the ADCP is a significant factor. A cost-effective ADCP allows for more widespread deployment, enabling comprehensive monitoring of the port's current conditions. Lower - cost devices also make it more feasible for the port authorities to carry out regular current measurements. This is important for obtaining accurate and up - to - date data on ocean currents, which is essential for the efficient operation and management of the port.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Ship-borne ADCP

If the objective is to obtain a wide-area overview of the current patterns in the port during vessel transits, a ship-borne ADCP is ideal. It can cover large areas of the port very fast and provides good data for general current mapping. This type of ADCP meter is suitable for initial surveys of the port's current conditions or for monitoring changes in the overall current patterns over time.

Bottom-mounted (Sit-on-the-bottom) ADCP

When long - term and continuous measurements at a specific location are required, such as near a particular berth, in a channel, or at a location of interest for environmental studies, a bottom-mounted ADCP is more appropriate. It can provide stable and long - term data for detailed analysis of local current variations. This is useful for understanding the specific current conditions that affect vessel operations at a particular point in the port.

Buoy-mounted ADCP

For monitoring the surface-layer currents and for more flexible deployment in different parts of the port, a buoy-mounted ADCP is a good option. It can be easily moved to different locations as needed and is useful for obtaining data on the upper - layer current dynamics. This type of ADCP is particularly useful for studying the interaction between the ocean surface and the atmosphere, as well as for monitoring the spread of pollutants near the water surface.

Selection Based on Frequency

The choice of ADCP profiler frequency depends on the water depth in Casablanca Port. For water depths within 70m, an ADCP with a frequency of 600kHz is suitable. The higher frequency provides better resolution in shallow waters, allowing for more accurate measurement of the current profiles at different depths. For water depths up to 110m, a 300kHz ADCP is a better choice. It offers a good balance between measurement range and resolution. When measuring in deeper waters, such as up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP is recommended. The lower frequency can penetrate deeper into the water column, although it may have a slightly lower resolution compared to higher - frequency ADCPs.

There are several well-known ADCP brands in the market, such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for those seeking a cost-effective and high-quality option, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It is made of all-titanium alloy materials, ensuring excellent corrosion resistance and durability. With its incredible cost-performance ratio, it provides a great solution for ocean current measurement in Casablanca Port. You can find more information on their website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

Here is a table with some well known Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) instrument brands and models.