ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Port of Corpus Christi

1. Where is Port of Corpus Christi?

The Port of Corpus Christi is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the largest ports in the United States.

Port Scale and Throughput The port has a large-scale infrastructure with a great quantity of berthing space and quay length. It sees a very high volume of cargo each year. The type of cargo products moved and handled includes crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, and agricultural produce. Its large reception of tankers and bulk carriers gives it an edge it has today in the energy and trade sectors, such as major hub exports for crude oil produced within the Permian Basin.

Routes and Business It connects the capital city via critical parts of the world's trade routes. It provides connections to almost all major ports around the world, especially those that participate in the energy trade. Business operations not only pertain to the exportation of local resources such as oil and gas but also the importation of heavy industrial and consumerist goods. The transport of chemicals used in various methods of manufacturing also relies on this port.

Port Management and Operation The port is managed in a well-organized manner. The management team is responsible for managing vessel traffic, cargo handling, and storage operations within the facility. They efficiently undertake the berthing and unloading/loading of vessels with modern equipment and a skilled workforce. There are strict safety and security measures regarding protection of the port, its workers, and the environment.

Port Facilities It is a facility fitted with state-of-the-art facilities. It has deep-water berths capable of accommodating very large crude carriers, popularly known as VLCCs. The port has extensive tank farms for storing petroleum products and a wide range of handling equipment for loading and unloading bulk and liquid cargo. It offers ancillary services that relate to ship repair and maintenance, bunkering, and logistics support to the movement of goods.

Channel and Direct Shipping The channels of the port are reasonably deep dredged to accommodate big vessels. It provides services of direct shipping to a majority of international ports. The geographical location on the Gulf of Mexico provides easy access to the major shipping lanes, enabling easy transportation of goods to and from various parts of the world.

2. Why are the ocean currents in the Port of Corpus Christi to be measured?

It is very important to measure ocean currents in the Port of Corpus Christi. Firstly, regarding the safety of ships. The ocean currents in the Gulf of Mexico are really dynamic. The currents may strongly impact ship manageability. The port authorities will then be able to give better guidance to the ships for entry and exit from the port with correct measurement of the current patterns. This prevents accidents, such as collisions with quay walls or other vessels, that could easily occur in strong or variable currents.

Another reason is that it is very helpful in ensuring the efficiency of port operations is maximized. With this knowledge of prevailing velocities, ships can adjust their speeds and routes. This would ensure fuel economy. For example, ships can make use of favorable currents while entering the port or leaving it quickly. This will contribute to the productivity of the overall port and also minimize the waiting times of vessels.

It will also help in the long-term maintenance of the port infrastructure. Ocean currents can affect sediment deposition around the port. The port management will be able to better plan dredging activities and take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of the port channels and berths by monitoring the currents. The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) offers a more advanced and convenient means of current measurement compared to traditional methods.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

ADCPs work on the principle of Doppler. They emit acoustic signals in water. Where this acoustic wave encounters and interacts with the moving particles in water-in form of suspended sediments, small organisms, etc-the frequency of reflected waves changes owing to the phenomenon of Doppler.

A ship-borne ADCP can be installed on vessels like survey ships or port-service vessels in the Port of Corpus Christi. During a vessel's passage through the water, the ADCP sends acoustic pulses downwards and sideways while measuring the frequency shifts of the reflected pulses from different depths. It estimates the velocity of the ocean current at depth from the frequency shift, which allows the calculation of speed. Information recorded could be utilized to navigate in real time, or even stored for further analysis.

Fixed ADCP Fixed ADCPs can be mounted on the seabed, on the side of piers, or other fixed structures. These ADCPs continuously emit and receive acoustic signals. They give a long-term record of current velocities and directions at that one location. It is very useful in understanding the local current pattern and any change that may be occurring with time.

4. High-quality measurements of the currents at the Port of Corpus Christi require what?

The equipment to be installed for high-quality current measurement in the Port of Corpus Christi must possess specific qualities. The materials to be used in the equipment must be of good quality and reliable. For example, the casing of the ADCP must be made of a titanium alloy. The reason is that a titanium alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance, which is of primary importance in marine conditions. This will not easily corrode with sea water and bode well with a long-time stable operation of the equipment.

It should be small in size and lightweight. A small and light ADCP is easy to install, either on a ship or on a fixed location. It reduces the load and space that it will occupy, thus being more convenient for usage.

Another important factor is the power consumption, which should be low. As the equipment has to operate in a continuous mode in a port environment, low power-consuming equipment will remain operational for longer periods without frequent battery replacements or higher demands on energy supply. The cost of equipment should be reasonable to allow large-scale deployment with comprehensive current measurement.

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

The choice of correct equipment for current measurement in the Port of Corpus Christi depends on the purpose of usage.

Based on Installation Type

• Ship - borne ADCP: If the goal is to measure the current during ship movement or to conduct surveys across different areas of the port, ship - borne ADCP is suitable.
• 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

The choice of frequency depends on the water depth. A 600 kHz ADCP will be suitable for water depths up to about 70m and can be used in shallower parts of the port. A 300 kHz ADCP is suitable for water depths up to about 110m and can cover a wider range of depths in the main port area. In addition, the ADCP with 75 kHz should be for even more bottom waters to 1000m or greater and is allowed near a place where has much water depth like a port entrance.

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 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) instrument brands and models.