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

1. Where is the Port of Galway?

The Port of Galway is located on the west coast of Ireland, on the shores of Galway Bay. It is a very important and lively port with a long history.

Port Scale and Throughput

The port is of a considerable scale and throughput. It handles everything from containers to dry bulk, such as aggregates and grains, to liquid bulk, including fuel and chemicals. The container traffic in this port has grown steadily over the years, acting as an important link in the import and export of goods in the region. Its annual throughput supports the local and regional economy by facilitating trade with other Irish ports and international destinations.

Routes and Business

It is well-connected through an extensive network of shipping routes. The port has regular services to other major Irish ports and also has connections to ports in the UK and Europe. In terms of business, it is involved in various maritime activities. Fishing is an important part of the port's operations, with a fleet of fishing vessels operating from here. It is also an important center for cargo shipment, both general and specialized. Tourism-related activities include ferry services for sightseeing and cruise ship visits that add to the business volume of the port.

Port Management and Operation

The port management focuses on its operations being efficiently and safely run. A team of professionals oversees the berthing of vessels, ensuring that ships are allocated suitable docking spaces in relation to their size and needs. The handling of cargo is carefully managed to ensure minimal delays and to facilitate the best flow of goods. Safety and security are paramount, with strict regulations and security measures in place to protect the infrastructure of the port, vessels, and cargo.

Facilities

The port is designed to include very modern, extended facilities. It consists of a number of deepwater berths and is thus able to receive big ocean vessels of various types, for instance, container carriers, passengers and cruises liners. Different heads are fitted out with up-to-date mechanization - cranes of different carriage capacitivities and other machinery on the quays for receiving and sending containers and bulk. Large storage areas for the receipt and dispatch of consignments of various types prior to or after shipment, including warehouses, open-air storage yards for containers and conventional cargo of all types, as well as facilities for the fishing fleet, like fish-handling area and cold storage.

Canal and Direct Shipping

The natural channel of Galway Bay provides an excellent base for the various operations that the port needs to handle. However, shipping requires adequate depth and width in the channel, necessitating regular maintenance and dredging operations. Having direct shipping links enables the shipment of goods quickly and efficiently. In fact, it is important in the line of supply, as movement of goods from one region to another and even among different countries is made possible through these shipping links.

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

Measuring ocean currents in the Port of Galway is indispensable for a number of reasons. Firstly, vessel traffic requires precise current data in order to ensure safety. The position of the port at Galway Bay and the entrance into the open sea expose ships to the influences of several currents. Unpredictable currents can pose an immediate danger to ships while maneuvering in docking, undocking, and navigating the channel. With appropriate measurement of currents, more accurate navigational information provided by the port to vessels can reduce the risk of incidents, hence ensuring the safety of both crew and cargo.

Second, current measurements are vital for effective port operations. Currents may alter the speed and preciseness of cargo handling activities. For instance, during loading or unloading a vessel, its position may be very well affected by the current. If the current is accurately forecasted, the port would then schedule such operations more properly and optimize berth usage to attain maximum efficiency in cargo handling.

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 hazardous substances. By measuring the currents, the port can take proactive measures to minimize the environmental impact and protect the delicate aquatic ecosystem of Galway Bay and the surrounding coastal areas. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) provides a more advanced and convenient means of current measurement compared to traditional methods.

3. How do ADCPs using the principle of Doppler work?

ADCPs are based on the Doppler principle. They transmit acoustic signals into the water. The signals are affected by moving particles in the water, which may be suspended sediments or small organisms, and bounce back to the ADCP meter. During the reflection of the acoustic signals, the frequency shift happens due to the Doppler effect. It is measured by the ADCP profiler, calculating the velocity of the water particles and subsequently the ocean current.

Ship-borne ADCP

The ADCPs are installed on board. While the ship moves across the port area and in waters around, the ADCP current meter sends acoustic pulses in three independent beams-the common directions are downwards and sideways. According to it, during the passage of a vessel, the ADCP current profiler counts the current velocity at variable depth. The device receives a detailed profile of current conditions along the route which the ship takes and makes an overall image of current characteristics in the area covered by the vessel.

Fixed ADCP

The fixed ADCPs are installed in fixed positions in the port, like on the seabed or on quay walls. These ADCPs monitor continuously the current at a single point for a longer period. Long-term data becomes vital in such cases for determining the current characteristics in the long run in those selected areas, like at the entrance of the channel or near the berths.

4. What's required to measure Galway port currents with high quality?

In measuring the ocean currents within the Port of Galway, the device must be made of materials that will ensure reliable measurement. Seawater is corrosive and may cause physical damage due to the marine environmental setting; thus, it has to be resistant. Small in size, light in weight, and low in power consumption are added advantages. A compact and lightweight ADCP is easier to install and operate, whether on a ship or at a fixed location. Low power consumption will enable continuous operation without the need for frequent battery replacement and high energy demand. Cost-effectiveness will also be an enabling factor for wide-scale deployment in the port.

The casing of ADCP profiler is preferably made of a titanium alloy. The usage of titanium alloy will enhance excellent corrosion resistance in sea water, ensuring the device's integrity for a long period of time. Besides, this alloy has a high ratio of strength to weight-a meaning that it can be strong and durable with relatively low weight. In addition, titanium alloy is biocompatible, reducing the potentially 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 Galway depends on the specific requirements.

Ship-borne ADCP

This is suitable when a broad overview of the current conditions in different parts of the port is needed. As the ship sails around the port, the ship-borne ADCP can collect data from various locations, providing a wide-range view of the current patterns in the port waters.

Bottom-mounted (Sitting on the seabed) ADCP

It has a number of advantages as an ADCP type. This type of ADCP would be ideal for long-term and fixed-point monitoring. Thus, it can be strategically installed at some points inside the port, such as the entrance of the channel or nearby berth, to continuously monitor in those specific areas. Buoy-mounted ADCPs remain quite useful when it would be impracticable to place any fixed device on either the seabed or a vessel. Such deployments can occur in free-water areas of a port in which measurement of current at varied depth is envisaged.

About the choice of frequency, different frequencies will correspond to different water depth, 600 kHz ADCP shall be adequate in the water depth up to 70 m, while a 300 kHz ADCP would work for a water depth of up to 110 meters and 75 kHz would apply for waters as deep as 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.