ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Salalah Port

1. Where is Salalah Port?

Salalah Port is located in the southern part of Oman, on the Arabian Sea. It is a strategic port in the region.

Port Scale and Throughput

Salalah Port is important and large in scale. It has a very well-designed structure with a lot of berths and terminals. Over the years, the throughput has grown, with cargo like containers, bulk commodities, ores, agricultural commodities, and liquid cargo like mineral and petroleum products. It serves as an important link in the trade between Oman and countries from regions like Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Routes and Business

The port has an excellent network of shipping routes. It has linkages with major ports in the Indian sub - continent, the Middle East, and Europe. The business activities principally pertain to import and export operations. It imports several goods like machinery, consumer products, and construction materials. On the export front, it exports Omani products such as limestone, marble, and agricultural produce.

Port Management and Operations

The port is managed by a professional team that focuses on efficient and sustainable operations. Advanced management systems are implemented in handling cargo, vessel traffic control, and logistics. The workforce is trained to ensure smooth operations in areas such as loading and unloading, storage management, and customs procedures.

Port Facilities

There is the addition of container terminals with modern gantry cranes at Salalah Port and similar facilities intended to offer faster facilities in working the vessel along with container vessels for quicker working of these at the facility and bulk cargo fitted out machinery requisite to handling various types of bulk material that come open yard storages, or warehoused along with ships-repair and -maintenance yards and other ancillary infrastructure-supportive function capability in regard to a broad range of ship calling service need there.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The port has well-maintained channels that provide access for large vessels. The depth of the channels is good enough to accommodate deep-draught ships. It offers direct shipping services to many important ports, which enhances its role as a regional trade hub and reduces transportation times and costs.

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

Measuring ocean currents in Salalah Port is of great importance for several reasons.

Navigation Safety

Knowledge of ocean currents is important for safe navigation. Currents can affect the speed, course, and maneuverability of a ship. In the port area, where ships have to berth and unberth with high precision, current information helps mariners to adapt their navigation plans. Strong or unpredictable currents near the port entrance or in the channels may cause collisions or groundings. These risks can be reduced significantly by measuring the currents.

Cargo Handling Efficiency

Ocean currents can affect the stability of ships while loading and unloading cargo. If the current conditions are not well understood, then it may lead to inefficiency in cargo handling. For example, improper alignment of the ship due to currents can delay the process of loading and unloading cargo. Measuring currents helps port operators to plan operations more effectively and thereby enhance overall efficiency.

Environmental Protection

Currents definitely play a significant role in the dispersion of pollutants within port areas. In case of any oil spill or discharge of hazardous materials, knowing current patterns would provide an estimate of how those pollutants could spread. That would, therefore, allow the taking of swift and effective response measures for protecting the marine environment and the coastline.

It provides a more intelligent and easy approach to measuring ocean currents, as compared with the traditional methods used. It generates real -time data with fair accuracy, highly useful for operating Salalah Port efficiently.

3. How do the ADCPs Using the Doppler Principle Work?

ADCP Measurement Principle

The operation of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) is based on the principle behind the Doppler effect. An acoustic signal emanates from the instrument into the water. When these signals encounter the moving particles in the water-suspended sediments or small organisms-the frequency of the reflected signals changes. The frequency of the reflected signal will increase if the particles are moving towards the ADCP; if it is moving away, it decreases. This frequency shift allows the ADCP to calculate the velocity of the water in which the particles are suspended.

Methods for Measurement of Current in Port-ADCP Specific Methods

Ship-borne ADCP

A ship-borne ADCP is mounted on the hull of a vessel. As the vessel travels through the water, the ADCP measures the current velocity at several depths relative to the vessel. In this way a profile of the current is obtained along the track followed by the vessel. The ship-borne ADCP is good for mapping general current patterns over the entire port area and the entrance channels.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are deployed at discrete locations within the port, either at or near berths, or at specific locations of importance in the channels. They monitor the current speed and direction at one location continuously. These instruments deliver high-resolution, long-term data useful in characterizing the local flow conditions impacting berthing and unberthing and other port operations.

4. What is necessary for high quality measurement of Salalah Port currents?

Reliability of Equipment

Reliable current measurement in Salalah Port will be assured with highly reliable equipment such as ADCP. It should sustain the harsh marine environment, high temperatures, saltwater, and strong winds. The materials that will be used in constructing the ADCP should be of high quality to operate for a long time with no frequent breakdown.

Small in Size, Light in Weight, and Low Power Consumption

A small-sized and lightweight ADCP is advantageous. Installation on ships and at fixed locations is easier, and the light weight decreases the load on the installation structure. Low power consumption is essential, since fixed-mounted ADCPs may be dependent upon battery or otherwise limited power supplies. This allows for extended operation periods.

Low Cost

The cost of such equipment should also be relatively low to ensure wide deployment within the port for comprehensive measurement of currents. Lower-cost ADCPs enable multiple units to be put in place, installed at multiple locations, making possible more current data with resolution.

Titanium Alloy Casing

The casing of the ADCP should be made from Titanium alloy. First, titanium alloy possesses very good corrosion resistance, crucial to withstand the corrosive effect of seawater in Salalah Port. It is lightweight and adds to the portability of the ADCP besides its ease of installation. Besides, titanium alloy is strong and tough and can stand up to most physical stresses and impacts that can happen in a marine environment.

5. How to Select Appropriate Equipment for Current Measurement?

Usage-based

Ship-borne ADCP

If the aim is to map the general features of current patterns in the port area during ship traffic, a ship-borne ADCP shall be used. It can deliver a continuous stream of data as the ship sails through different parts of the port.

Bottom-mounted (Sit-on-bottom) ADCP

When long - term current measurements are required for a site at a location near the bottom, for instance for locations where sediment transport is an issue, a bottom - mounted ADCP can be applied. It can provide very detailed information on current behaviour close to the bottom.

Buoy-mounted ADCP

Buoy-mounted ADCP serves the purpose if the measurement of the current profile is to be made in a more mobile or flexible manner. The buoy will be free to move along with the currents in order to delineate dynamic current patterns in the port.

Frequency Based

The ADCP of 600kHz would work best in water depths up to 70m for high-resolution current measurement, while a 300kHz ADCP will be better in up to 110m. Further, in deeper waters up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP is more appropriate.

There are well-known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for a cost - effective option, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is recommended. It is made of all - titanium alloy materials and offers an excellent cost-performance ratio. You can visit their website at (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

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