ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port

1. Where is the Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port?

The Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port is situated at the confluence of the Dnieper and Bug rivers into the Black Sea. This location gives it the supremacy of good approach both from inland waterways and by sea.

Port Scale and Throughput The port is pretty big, with a huge variation in the length of the quays and the number of berths. It has very high levels of cargo throughput, such as agricultural products like grains emanating from the richly endowed areas of the Dnieper River basin, aside from bulk cargo such as ores, building materials, and containerized goods. The facilities of the port are built to handle large vessels that add to the high throughputs.

Routes and Business It is a critical link in the transport chain between inland Ukraine and the international market. The port participates in a number of shipping routes that connect it with other Black Sea ports and those from the Mediterranean and beyond. Its business mainly consists of exporting Ukrainian products like grains, metals, and chemicals, while its imports are machinery, consumer goods, and raw materials for local industries.

Port Management and Operation The management of the port is carried out through a duly organized administrative and operational setup, which looks into all aspects of port functions, including vessels, cargo handling and storage. They ensure efficient berthing of vessels and fast unloading/loading of vessels using modern equipment, coupled with trained personnel for the job. Safety and security protocols are undertaken to safeguard against any form of damage to either the port facility or its functions.

Port Facilities It is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Advanced handling machinery such as high-capacity cranes at the container terminals, special bulk cargo equipment that includes heavy conveyor belt and grab unloaders for effective performance. Large areas are allocated for storage purposes, name it dry cargo in large warehouses or liquid cargo in storage tanks. This port also offers repair services to the vessels, maintenance of vessels, bunkering, and other ancillary requirements pertaining to transport.

Channel and Direct Shipping The channels of the port are well-maintained and dredged to the right depth to enable vessels with a large draft to pass through it. It has direct shipping connections with most ports, which minimizes transit times and adds to its competitiveness. Connection to the Dnieper and Bug rivers enables it to serve as a hub for inland waterway transportation.

2. Why do we need to measure the ocean currents in the Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port?

The measuring of ocean currents in the Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port is highly relevant. First of all, this is necessary for the safety of navigation. Ocean currents can significantly affect the controllability of the vessel. In the case of proper measurement of the current patterns, the port authorities are able to provide better guidance during the entry and exit of ships. This may help avoid a number of accidents involving collision with quay walls or other vessels, which may be quite common during periods of strong or variable currents.

It is also useful in the efficiency optimization of port operations. With current knowledge, ships can already optimize their speed and routes and consequently reduce fuel consumption. As for an example, vessels may make use of favorable currents and, as such, enter and leave the ports more quickly. As such, it boosts the general productivity of a port while decreasing the vessel-waiting times accordingly.

Further, long-term maintenance of the port infrastructure is possible. The ocean currents can affect sediment deposition around the port. In this way, the port administration can plan dredging accordingly and take other measures in order to safeguard the integrity of the port channels and berths. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) is more advanced and convenient in current measurement compared to traditional techniques.

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

The ADCPs work on the principle of Doppler. They send acoustic signals into the water. Due to the doppler effect these acoustic waves intercepted by moving particles in water -suspended sediments or small organisms- the frequency of reflected waves shifts.

Ship - borne ADCP A shipborne ADCP, within the given context of the Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port, can be mounted on survey vessels or port-service vessels. The ADCP sends acoustic pulses downward and sideways as the ship goes through the water while the frequency shifts of the reflected pulses at different depths are measured. Analyzing these frequency shifts yields the calculation of the speed of the current at different layers of the ocean. The returning data can also be used simultaneously for real navigation and can be logged for further investigation.

Fixed ADCP Fixed ADCPs may be deployed on the sea floor, mounted on the sides of piers, and other fixed platforms. The continuous transmission and receiving of acoustic signals in water are done by ADCPs. Long-term records at a particular location are provided as current velocities and directions. The above-mentioned data provide an understanding of local current patterns and temporal changes.

4. What does the high-quality measurement of currents of the Commercial Port of Dnieper - Bug Sea need?

The equipment to be used for high-quality current measurement in the Dnieper-Bug Sea Commercial Port should possess the following characteristics: the materials of the equipment should be reliable. For example, it is better that the casing of ADCP be made from titanium alloy. The corrosion resistance of the titanium alloy is excellent, which is very important in the marine environment. It is able to resist the corrosive effects of seawater, thus enabling this equipment to be durable and stable for a long period.

The size of the equipment should be small and the weight lightweight. A small-sized and lightweight ADCP is easier to install whether on a ship or at a fixed location. It will reduce the load and space it occupies, hence more convenient for usage.

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

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

The choice of equipment for the measurement of current in the Dnieper - Bug Sea Commercial Port depends on the purpose of its application.

By Type of Installation

• Ship-borne ADCP: In case the purpose is to measure the current of ships in motion or to carry out surveys across different areas of the port, ship-borne ADCP will be quite applicable.
• Bottom - mounted ADCP: For long - term and fixed - point monitoring of current conditions, especially near critical port structures such as channels and berths, bottom - mounted ADCP is the better option.
• Buoy - mounted ADCP: When the focus is on the surface and upper - layer current patterns in the open water area of the port, buoy - mounted ADCP can be considered.

Based on Frequency

Frequency depends on water depth. A 600 kHz frequency ADCP would be sufficient for up to approximately 70m of water depth and could be applied in the more shallow parts of the port. Up to approximately 110 m water depth, an ADCP of 300 kHz would be suitable and could cover the main port area over a greater depth range. A 75 kHz ADCP targets much deeper water, up to 1000m, and can apply in areas that have substantial water depth, such as near 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.