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

1. Where is Kakinada Port?

Overview of Kakinada Port

Kakinada Port is located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a major port with a large scale and sizeable throughput. The port handles a broad variety of cargo that includes petroleum products, fertilizers, coal, and containers.

The shipping connections of Kakinada Port are vast, connecting it with several other domestic and international ports. It is an important hub for trade in the region, enabling the import and export of goods for various industries. The management of the port is very efficient and uses advanced technologies for operations. There are well-organized teams for vessel traffic management, cargo handling, and other port-related functions. The use of automated systems for cargo handling and digital communication channels greatly enhances the general productivity and smooth running of the port.

Facilities

Berths: The port has a number of berths, which are designed to handle various types of vessels. There are berths for large-sized tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships. These berths are equipped with modern mooring and docking facilities to ensure the safe arrival and departure of ships. The use of strong bollards and fenders helps in withstanding the forces exerted during docking and undocking.

Cargo-handling Equipment: On the quay, there is a range of cargo-handling equipment. There are pumping and transfer systems for handling petroleum products. For bulk cargo, such as coal and fertilizers, there are conveyor systems and grabs. In the case of container handling, gantry cranes can be used to load and unload containers efficiently. Storage Facilities: The facilities have a wide area for storing all kinds of cargo. Storage tanks for petroleum products will be installed with safety devices such as spill containment and fire protection systems. Bulk material storage includes large stockpiles that have proper draining and containment systems. There will also be container yards for storage.

Channel and Navigation Aids: The channel is dredged to a sufficient depth and width to allow the safe passage of vessels. Dredging is done periodically to make it accessible for ships with big drafts. There are buoys, beacons, and radar systems to guide the ships in and out of the port. The radar systems operate in real time to enable information about the position and traffic of other vessels in port vicinity.

2. Why measure the ocean currents in the Kakinada Port?

Importance from the Point of View of Port Management

Measuring ocean currents in Kakinada Port bears great significance. First is in regard to vessel safety navigation. The knowledge of the actual current speed and direction is quite important to ship captains during berthing or passing through the channel. A strong cross-current near a berth makes the process of docking pretty challenging and hazardous. For instance, if a ship is approaching a berth against a strong current, it may have to adjust its speed and angle of approach to ensure smooth and safe docking. Accurate current measurement allows the captain to make informed decisions and greatly minimizes the occurrence of collisions or other accidents.

It is also crucial for optimizing the operations of the port. Current data facilitates the scheduling of the arrival and departure of ships. By understanding the tidal currents and other regular flow patterns, port authorities can make better use of berthing resources and plan loading and unloading activities. In this way, productivity improves by allowing more effective coordination of cargo-handling operations.

In addition, knowledge of ocean currents is important from an environmental point of view in case there is an accidental spill of pollutants. Due to the nature of cargo handled in this port, which includes petroleum products and chemicals, it becomes essential to predict the spread of a spill. The current data can help in quickly implementing containment and mitigation measures to minimize environmental damage.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Principle of Measurement

Principle: Basically, ADCPs operate according to the Doppler principle. When an acoustic signal is emitted into the water by the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), it scatters from moving water particles. These water particles will displace the frequency of the reflected acoustic signal that returns to the ADCP, since they are moving owing to the ocean current. According to the Doppler effect, this shift in frequency is related to the speed of the water flow.

Calculation of Current Speed and Direction

By analyzing the magnitude and direction of this frequency shift, the ADCP current profiler calculates the speed and direction of the ocean current at various levels in the water column. By transmitting signals in more than one direction and over a range of depths, a profile of the ocean current can be obtained, indicating the way the current changes with depth.

ADCP Deployment in the Port

Shipborne ADCP

One ADCP flow meter is installed on board ships operating in the Kakinada Port area. The ADCP installed on a ship moving around the port continuously sends acoustic signals into the water underneath. Because of the movement of the ship, the ADCP covers a wide area and can collect current data from different locations. For instance, a research or inspection ship with a shipborne ADCP can, during a routine survey of the port, collect data on the current patterns over different areas of the port for a comprehensive understanding of the water flow situation.

Fixed ADCP

The fixed ADCPs are deployed at selected fixed locations within the terminal, such as on the seabed near important areas of navigation or at the entrance/exit of the terminal. These ADCPs shall make continued measurements of the ocean current at their fixed positions for a long period. Indeed, the data collected gives useful information on the current in regular patterns in specific areas of the terminal. For example, one bottom-moored ADCP profiler at the port entrance can measure the incoming and outgoing currents to help interpret tidal effects and other consistent flow characteristics of that area.

4. What does high-quality measurement of Kakinada port currents require?

Equipment Requirements

Some equipment characteristics will be important to high-quality measurement of currents in the Kakinada port.

First, reliability of materials is important; equipment used must be durable in sea waters. Seawater contains salt and other chemicals, which progressively destroy materials in seawater. The pressure differences relative to depth further causes loss of equipment parts or collapse from mechanical forces. The energy from waves and currents sometimes causes mechanical impact.

Secondly, the size should be small, the weight less, and the power consumed minimal. A compact size makes the installation of sensors easy at different locations in a port, whether on vessels, on fixed structures, or even on the seabed. The lighter the sensor, the easier it is to install and transport. Lower power consumption ensures that the equipment can operate continuously for long periods without the need for frequent battery replacements or excessive power supply, especially in applications that require long-term monitoring.

Cost is another crucial factor: the lower the cost, the more measuring devices the port can deploy to monitor currents across different areas of the port.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing of ADCPs is preferably made from titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has very good corrosion resistance, thus it can stand long contact with seawater without degradation in structure or functionality. Its high strength-to-weight ratio enables the construction of a strong yet relatively lightweight casing. For instance, in those parts of the Kakinada port that are relatively deeper and have higher water pressures, an ADCP with a casing made of a titanium alloy will be able to resist such pressures and still keep on measuring currents accurately.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: Where the objective is to carry out wide-area surveys of the port waters, with the ship in operation, then the shipborne ADCP will be suitable. It can cover different sections of the port as the ship moves around, collecting a large amount of data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the overall current situation in the port. This helps in mapping general flow patterns and variations over different areas of the port waters.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: These are more appropriate for fixed-point and long-term monitoring of specific locations within the port, such as near important infrastructure or areas with complex current behaviors. They can continuously record the current data at those fixed positions, providing insights into the local current characteristics and any changes over time.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: Where it is not convenient to install fixed equipment on the seabed or on ships, buoy-mounted ADCPs can be used. They float on the water surface and measure the currents in the upper layers of the water column. Relatively easy to deploy, they could be relocated if necessary; this makes them suitable for monitoring certain dynamic areas or those difficult to reach inside the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

An ADCP's frequency would mainly depend on the water depth where it was deployed in the Kakinada port. Most ADCPs with 600 kHz could work quite well if the water depth does not exceed 70 meters deep since good current measurement readings can still be accurately read by an ADCP in these relatively shallow depths. When dealing with deeper waters up to about 110 meters, a 300 kHz frequency ADCP is more advisable. In very deep sections of the port, with water depth reaching up to 1000 meters, an ADCP with a frequency of 75 kHz is recommended to ensure reliable profiling of the ocean currents at such great depth.

There are several well - known ADCP brands in the market, such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, there is also an excellent Chinese ADCP brand - China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made entirely of titanium alloy material, which not only ensures its durability in the marine environment but also offers an excellent cost - performance ratio. For more information, you can visit its official website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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