ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Masinloc Port

1. Location of Masinloc Port

Masinloc Port serves the municipality of Masinloc in the province of Zambales, Philippines. The said port is among the important ones along the western coast of Luzon.

Port and Throughput Scale

This port is of a middle to large scale but has been playing an enormously vital role within the local and regional perspective of maritime trade. It deals with all types of cargo, including coal, as it is a receiving point for imported coal used in power generation and other industries. Other bulk cargo, such as grains and construction materials, is also handled. The volume of throughput is considerable, with ships constantly coming in to load and discharge cargo. Also, due to the strategic location of the port, it is able to handle a fair share of containerized cargo, further assisting in trade between the different regions.

Routes and Business

Masinloc Port is connected with various shipping routes, which include both domestic and international. Nationally, it connects with other major ports within the Philippines for easy transportation of goods across the country. On the international level, it has trade relationships with countries in the Asian continent, especially those involved in the import and export of coal and other raw materials. The key businesses present in the port are shipping lines that handle cargo transport, stevedoring companies that provide the loading and unloading services, and warehousing for the storage of goods. Also, there is a great fishing industry in the area, and the fishing vessels have taken this port as a base to operate their functions.

Port Management and Operation

The management of the port comes under the authority of the local port and other such bodies. The scope of their operations is huge, to say the least. They maintain vessel traffic control to keep the vessels moving smoothly and efficiently into and out of the port. Berthing arrangements are closely monitored to optimize the available space and to ensure safety for vessels. The handling of cargo strictly follows the standards for safety and efficiency. The port management also works on the development and maintenance of the infrastructure in order to maintain the port in good condition and with the capacity to handle increased trade demands.

Port Facilities

The port is also equipped with a number of useful facilities. It contains multiple berths that can receive several kinds of vessels, including medium-sized cargo ships up to large bulk carriers. Other storage facilities include container yards for containerized cargo and open-air storage of bulk materials. Specialized coal handling includes a conveyor belt and storage silo facilities. The port offers fuelling facilities for vessels, fresh water supply, and workshops for repair and maintenance.

Channel and Direct Navigation

Masinloc Port has a safe and navigable channel whose depth is monitored regularly; if the need arises, it is dredged so as to be able to accommodate most of the vessel drafts. It has a complement of navigational aids like buoys, beacons, and radar systems that assist the mariner in directly navigating the channel, avoiding any hazards that might include shallow areas or submerged obstacles.

2. Why measure the ocean currents in the Masinloc port?

Efficient Vessel Operations

Accurate measurement of the ocean current in Masinloc Port is highly essential for effective vessel operation. Knowledge of the current direction and speed will be beneficial in exact berthing and mooring. Knowledge of the currents allows the port operators to position vessels during docking to reduce the likelihood of collisions and ensure the safety of ships and port infrastructures. Besides, the vessels could make use of favorable currents at entry and exit from the port, which would mean saving on fuel and reducing the transit times.

Support for Trade and Logistics

The current measurements are important in as far as trade and logistics flow smoothly. Shipping schedules may be influenced by currents. Current data could, therefore, be utilized by shipping companies in the better planning of arrival and departure times to effect timely delivery and reduction of demurrage costs. This is very important since all kinds of cargo are handled by the port, including time-sensitive items: perishable items, supplies for industry. These current measurements, from an infrastructure perspective, offer good insights into the present state of maintenance and future planning of port structures. The hydrodynamic forces that currents can exert have a long-term consequence for the stability and durability of quay walls and piers and other facilities. With proper data about currents, port authorities will be able to design more resilient infrastructure and schedule preventive maintenance activities that extend the life span of these structures.

Environmental Considerations

Measuring ocean currents is also important from the viewpoint of environmental protection. Currents contribute to the dispersal of pollutants in port waters. In the case of an oil spill or other contaminant release, knowledge of current patterns aids in the implementation of effective containment and cleanup strategies. It also assists in monitoring the impact of port activities on the surrounding marine ecosystem and in formulating sustainable development plans.

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is a more advanced and convenient method of measuring ocean currents compared to traditional methods. It can offer current profile information in real-time and in detail, which enables better and more effective monitoring of ocean currents in the port area.

3. How do the Doppler Principle ADCPs work?

The working principle of ADCPs is based on the Doppler effect. Transducers of ADCP current meter emit acoustic signals into the water. These produced acoustic waves interact with moving particles in the water, like suspended sediments or small organisms. The frequency of the reflected waves changes when acoustic waves encounter these moving particles due to the Doppler effect.

This frequency shift of the reflected signals is measured by the ADCP meter. By using some algorithms and calibration, it will be able to estimate the velocity of the moving particles. Since the movement of the particles is mainly because of the ocean current, the ADCP current profiler can calculate the velocity of the current.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are installed on vessels operating in the port area. While the ship is in transit, the ADCP flow meter shoots continuously in various directions: upward and sideways, for example. The velocities of these currents are taken over variable depth along the track while the ship is moving ahead. Data obtained during passage-with the ship underway-are put together to give a comprehensive plan view of the current field of the port area while having in-depth knowledge of how the patterns of current have varied in a voyage.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed at fixed locations in the port, which can be laid on the seabed or fixed to some other stationary structures such as piers or breakwaters. This continuously monitors the ocean current at that location as a function of time. Data from the fixed ADCPs are thus useful for the determination of long-term and consistent current features at fixed key points within the port. This can be used for reference in port operations, research, and infrastructure planning.

4. What's needed for high-quality measurement of Masinloc port currents?

Equipment Requirements

The equipment should be made of reliable materials withstanding the harsh marine environments, such as the salinity of seawater or high pressures at different levels of water depth and possible impacts from floating debris, for high-quality measurement of the ocean currents in Masinloc Port.

Other important considerations include the size and weight of the equipment: the smaller the size, the lighter the weight. This is particularly helpful when installing on vessels or space-restricted fixed structures since it offers greater flexibility in their location.

Another important factor is the power consumption. A low-power-consuming device is a desirable one because it could run for longer periods of time without necessarily needing battery replacements now and then or an excessive energy supply. This is quite important for fixed ADCPs that may not have easy access to a continuous power source.

Advantage of Titanium Alloy Casing

The ADCPs made of casing from titanium alloy are unparalleled. The corrosion resistance of the Titanium alloy is excellent, enabling it to resist the effects of seawater for extended periods. This contributes positively to the integrity and performance of the ADCP profiler. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio that allows for a durable yet lightweight design, which is beneficial for both installation and operation. Besides, titanium alloy is resistant to high pressure in greater depth, and that is why it is perfect for using in various water depth conditions of the port area.

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

Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: In such a case when one's primary interest would lie in understanding the comprehensive pattern that currents take when vessels are moving within the port, the shipborne variety will do. A wider ranging would then be captured while it sails around various areas within the port.

Bottom-mounted (Sitting on the seabed) ADCP: Long-term, continuous monitoring of the conditions of the current at particular fixed locations, such as near important port structures, or in areas where the flow characteristics are of particular interest for research or operational reference, the bottom-mounted ADCPs fit more appropriately. They may give stable and consistent results over a longer period of time.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: Where access by fixed installations or even ship operations is not feasible, currents can be measured by buoy-mounted ADCPs. These ADCPs can move with the currents to a certain extent while collecting data and give an idea about the variation of the current in those regions.

Based on Frequency

For water depths up to 70 meters, an ADCP of frequency 600 kHz is normally suitable. It gives precise and detailed current measurements at the relatively shallow areas of the port.

In water with depths of up to 110 meters, a 300 kHz ADCP may be more suitable. This would efficiently penetrate the water column and extract reliable current data at that depth.

ADCP of 75 kHz in frequency can suit the depth range up to 1000 meters per water depth. It tends to provide large coverage but can measure ocean currents accordingly with acceptable accuracy.

There are several well-known ADCP brands in the market, such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, it's worth mentioning a cost-effective Chinese ADCP brand-China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made of all-titanium alloy material and offers an impressive price-performance ratio. You can visit its website at (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

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