ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Frederikshavn Port

1. Where is Frederikshavn Port?

Frederikshavn port is one of the biggest ports and is located in the northern region of Denmark. It also holds an important position in the local sea.

Port Scale and Throughput

Frederikshavn Port is fairly big in scale. This port deals with all types of cargo: general cargo, container cargo, and bulk cargo. The annual throughput is quite high as thousands of tons each year pass through the docks. The tonnage of containers it can handle is also pretty good, which allows it to be an important link in the international supply chain for trade.

Routes and Business

The port has good connectivity through different routes of shipping. It provides service to both domestic and international destinations. There are regular ferry services that link Frederikshavn with other Scandinavian ports and also with other European country ports. In terms of business, it deals in the importation and exportation of a wide range of products, including industrial raw materials, consumer goods, and agricultural products.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by a professional team that ensures efficiency in its operations. Safety and security in the port are guided by strict standards that ensure maximum protection of the port and its activities. The port authority maintains the infrastructure, manages vessel traffic, and liaises with various stakeholders involved in shipping companies, cargo handling, and port-related service provision.

Port Facilities

Facilities in Frederikshavn Port are very diverse. Indeed, the port features modern docks lined with advanced equipment for loading and unloading operations of various types of cargo. Other facilities include storage facilities, such as warehouses for dry cargo and tanks for liquid cargo. This port has a well-developed connection by road and rail, enabling easy transport of goods to and from the port area.

Channels and Direct Navigation

The channels are well-maintained, enabling vessels of different sizes to enter the port without posing any safety risks. The depth and width of the channels are quite adequate for vessels that range in size from large-scale cargo ships down to ferries. Direct navigations towards and from the port are possible, which does shorten transit times and generally increases overall efficiency in shipping operations.

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

The measurements of the ocean currents at Frederikshavn Port are very essential for several reasons. The data obtained from the current measurements is pertinent to the operational management of the port.

In vessel navigation, knowledge of the ocean currents helps in planning the safest and most efficient routes for ships entering and leaving the port. Currents can have a very substantial effect on vessel speed and course. Understanding the pattern of the current enables the ship captains to adopt navigational strategies which result in lower fuel consumption and reduced transits.

From the point of view of port operations, such information on ocean currents is fundamental to mooring operations. Stronger currents cause more stress to the mooring lines and may interfere with the stability of vessels in the berth. Precise current measurements allow port operators to design better mooring arrangements and ensure safety for ships during the operation of loading and unloading.

Knowledge of the currents, moreover, allows forecasts about the way in which pollutants will disperse for the port's environmental management. This means that in the event of accidental spills or discharges, effective containment and clean-up work requires very detailed knowledge of the direction and speed of the current.

Thus, ADCP flow meter represents a more sophisticated and user-friendly technique of measuring currents compared to all the traditional older techniques. It can also yield real-time and continuous information, which is valued highly for an active port environment such as Frederikshavn.

3. How do Doppler principle ADCPs work?

ADCPs operate according to the Doppler effect principle. They send acoustic signals into the water column. If these signals intercept particles or organisms moving with the flow of water, their reflected signal is frequency shifted. This frequency shift is measured to calculate the velocity at different water depth by the ADCP doppler.

Ship-borne ADCP

Ship-borne ADCPs are installed on vessels. While the ship is in motion, it continuously measures the water current velocities. Data from these can give a profile of the current over the path of the ship. Real current information can be given to the crew if the device integrates with the ship navigation system in real time, thus enabling them to make more-informed decisions during navigation.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are mounted at a fixed location within the port, for example, on a pier or a buoy. They continuously provide information on current conditions for that particular point. The data of fixed ADCPs provides valuable insights into the long-term current pattern and furnishes reference current information for port operations and environmental studies.

4. What is needed to carry out high-quality measurements in Frederikshavn port?

There are a number of desirable characteristics for the equipment to be used for high-quality current measurement in Frederikshavn Port.

The material of the equipment has to be reliable. The equipment, being in the harsh marine environment, must put up with corrosion and high pressure amongst other adverse conditions. Smaller size and lighter weight will also be an advantage. This will facilitate better installation, particularly if space is not sufficient, as may be provided by ships or small buoys.

A low power consumption is particularly important to applications of long-and-continuous measurement, because it allows the equipment to operate for extended periods without regular changes of batteries and interruptions in the power supply. Yet another consideration involves cost-effectiveness: relatively inexpensive measuring devices are preferred for the great ports' measurement applications, as it will minimize the overall cost of the measurement program.

ADCP flow meter casing is preferably made of titanium alloy. It has achieved good resistance to corrosion therein, and this is basically required in the salt-water environment of the port area. Besides, this will also be strong enough to resist mechanical stresses and impacts that might occur in the port area. Since the density of the metal is pretty low compared to other metals, the overall weight remains under control.

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

This section will elaborate on how to choose the right ADCP current meter equipment for measuring currents in Frederikshavn Port based on its intended usage.

Based on Usage Type

Ship-borne ADCP: It is ideal for vessels that need current measurement during navigation. It provides current data in real time to the ship's crew and helps optimize the course and speed of the ship. 

Bottom-mounted (Sitting-bottom) ADCP: This type is ideal for fixed-point measurements in the port. It can be installed on the seabed near the docks or in the channels, enabling one to monitor the current conditions continuously at some particular location.

Buoy-type ADCP: These are useful in places where bottom mounts are not practical. An ADCP current profiler of buoy-type can be kept in the water column and transmit data wirelessly either to the shore or to any receiving station on a ship.

Based on Frequency

Not only that, but the depth of water also matters in choosing the frequency. For example, a 600 kHz frequency ADCP will suit water depths up to 70m, while a 300 kHz ADCP will be appropriate for a depth of up to 110m; an ADCP flow meter with 75 kHz will work for water with depths up to 1000m.

There are several well - known ADCP flow meter brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a recommended Chinese ADCP doppler brand is China Sonar ​PandaADCP. It is made of all - titanium alloy material, which provides excellent durability and corrosion resistance. It also offers an incredible cost - performance ratio. You can find more information about it on its official website: (​https://china - ​sonar.com/).

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