ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in the Port of Fenit

1. Location of the Port of Fenit

Port of Fenit is a facility on the southwestern Irish coast; it is quite an important maritime facility within the area.

Scale and Throughput of Port: Fenit port is a port of considerable scale and throughput. It acts as a very important gateway to Irish trade and transport. There is a wide variety of cargo, including agricultural, industrial, and fishing cargoes. The annual throughput is large, with imports and exports in reasonable balance. It plays an important part in the local and regional economy by facilitating the movement of goods to and from the area.

Route and Business: The port is well-connected by shipping route. It has connections to the other Irish ports along with the international destinations. The businesses in the port are multifarious. Fishing is the prime constituent of its businesses, with the number of fishing vessels huge in account. Besides fishing, it is involved in general cargo handling such as the loading and unloading of containers, bulk goods like coal and grain, and the transportation of machinery and construction materials.

Port Management and Operation: It has efficient management with the perspective of smooth operation. Berthing is properly organized with the help of personnel at each particular berth so as to have less waiting and utilization of the berths to a fuller extent. The security and safety arrangement of infrastructure, vessels, and goods is well noted within the port. In every aspect of operation, handling at the ports is guided from the arrival of the ship up to departure.

Port Facilities: The port is equipped with excellent facilities. It has multiple deep - water berths capable of accommodating large ocean - going vessels as well as smaller coastal ships. There are warehouses and storage areas for different types of cargo. Advanced cargo - handling equipment such as cranes, forklifts, and conveyor belts are used to load and unload goods quickly and efficiently.

Channel and Direct Shipping: The channel of the port is well-maintained so that ships can pass through it safely. Dredging operations are regularly carried out to maintain the depth required. It has direct shipping connections that enable quick and efficient transportation of goods. These connections are essential for the port's role in the supply chain and for promoting trade in the area.

2. Why are measurements of ocean currents at Port of Fenit so necessary?

It is highly crucial to measure ocean currents at the Port of Fenit. The safety of the navigation of vessels in any port relies on having good, solid data of current conditions. Given its location and different types of vessels, it is vital that ships be informed of the currents to ensure safe access into and out of the facility. Currents can affect a ship's maneuverability, especially in the narrow channels and near the berths. The port can provide improved navigational guidance to the ships with precise current measurements.

The current measurement is also an important consideration in the case of port operations. Currents might affect the speed and precision of cargo handling. As an example, during loading or unloading of the ship, the position of the vessel will be influenced by the current. A port can thus schedule the operations accordingly and utilize the berthing facilities optimally with the help of current data.

Finally, from an environmental perspective, understanding the ocean currents is important for managing potential pollution incidents. Currents can determine the spread of pollutants such as oil spills or other harmful substances. By measuring the currents, the port can take proactive measures to minimize the environmental impact and protect the marine ecosystem in and around the port. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) provides a more advanced and convenient method of current measurement compared to traditional techniques.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler effect. They send out acoustic signals into the water. These signals scatter against moving particles in the water, like suspended sediments or small organisms. As these acoustic signals are reflected back to the ADCP meter, a frequency shift because of the Doppler effect is observed. The ADCP measures this frequency shift and calculates the velocity of the water particles, which gives the velocity of the ocean current.

Ship-borne ADCP

Ship-borne ADCPs are mounted on vessels. While the ship moves across the port area and adjoining waters, the ADCP current meter sends out acoustic pulses in various directions, normally upward and to the side. The device records the speed of the current at a number of depths while it travels. It results in an extremely thorough profile of current conditions over the path of the vessel and thus it gives comprehensive coverage of current patterns over areas the ship covers.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed at specific locations within the port, such as on the seabed or on quay walls. These ADCPs continuously monitor the current at a single point over an extended period. Over time, the collected data becomes very important in terms of understanding the long - term current characteristics in the key areas of the port, like the entrance of the channel or near the berths.

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

For high-quality measurement of ocean currents in the Port of Fenit, the equipment should be made from reliable materials. Since seawater is corrosive and the device might be physically damaged by the marine environment, it needs to be resistant. Small size, light weight, and low power consumption are also advantageous. A compact and lightweight ADCP current profiler is easier to install and operate, whether on a ship or at a fixed location. Low power consumption allows for continuous operation without frequent battery replacement or high energy demands. Cost - effectiveness is also a key factor to enable wide - scale deployment in the port.

The casing of ADCP flow meter is preferably made of titanium alloy. The reason is that titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance in seawater, ensuring the long-term integrity of the device. Besides, it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, which means it can be strong and durable while maintaining a relatively low weight. In addition, titanium alloy is biocompatible, which reduces the potential negative impact on the marine environment.

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

The choice of the right equipment for current measurement in the Port of Fenit depends on the specific requirements.

Ship-borne ADCP

This is appropriate when an overview of the present conditions in large areas of the port is sufficient. While the vessel circles around the port, the ship-borne ADCP can sample from more places, hence giving a large-scale perspective of current patterns in port waters.

Bottom-mounted (Sitting on the seabed) ADCP

This type of ADCP profiler is suitable for long-term and fixed-point monitoring. It can be installed at strategic points in the port, such as at the entrance of the channel or near the berths, to continuously monitor the current conditions in those specific areas.

Buoy-mounted ADCP

Buoy-mounted ADCPs are useful for areas where it is impractical to install a fixed device on the seabed or on a ship. They can be deployed in open water areas within the port to measure the currents at different depths.

Regarding frequency selection, different frequencies are suitable for different water depths. A 600 kHz ADCP is appropriate for water depths up to 70 meters, a 300 kHz ADCP for depths up to 110 meters, and a 75 kHz ADCP for much deeper waters up to 1000 meters.

There are well-known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, there is also a Chinese ADCP brand, China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, which ensures its durability in the marine environment 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.