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

1. Where is Kunda Port?

Overview of Kunda Port

Kunda port, due to its rich history and important role in local and regional maritime trade, is a coastal port. In terms of scale, it has a moderate - sized infrastructure that serves a diverse range of vessels. The annual throughput of the port includes a variety of goods such as construction materials, agricultural products, and some industrial supplies. It has well - established shipping routes that connect it to other ports in the region and along the coast, facilitating the transportation of these goods.

Management and operation of the Kunda port are effective and oriented to the community. There are teams involved in the smooth flow of vessels, handling cargo at the facility, and following the set standards on safety. The port works hand in hand with the local businesses and authorities in order to foster trade and economic development. For instance, it liaises with farmers at the local level to export their produce and construction firms to import materials that will be used.

Port Facilities

The port is equipped with a variety of useful facilities. It has a number of berths of different lengths and depths to accommodate ships of various sizes. Loading and unloading equipment, such as cranes and forklifts, which would be suitable in handling the types of cargo that normally pass through the port, is available. There are warehousing facilities available for short- and long-term storage of goods. These warehouses are well-maintained and offer a secure environment for various products. Besides that, basic amenities for the crews of vessels have rest areas and supply points.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of the port is kept to a depth and width sufficient to enable the passage of ships safely through it. Various inspection works and maintenance are performed routinely to ensure that the channel is usable. Regarding direct shipping, the Kunda port has links to other important ports in the region. Such direct links are vital for the timely movement of shipment goods and help reduce the time and cost of transit.

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

Importance for Port Operation and Management

Measurements of ocean currents in Kunda port are highly relevant. This will serve mostly for the purpose of vessel navigation safety. Knowledge about the pattern of currents and their velocities will help ship captains make more accurate decisions while approaching the port for berthing. For instance, if the current is strong at any particular berth, then captains can adjust their approach speed and angles to ensure smooth and safe docking. This minimizes the risk of collisions and other accidents that could disrupt port operations.

It is necessary in the optimization of port operations. The current information will contribute to better planning in the arrival and departure of vessels. The tidal and other rhythmic current patterns will enable the port authorities to manage the berthing spaces and the handling equipment more beneficially. Productivity rises since loading and unloading activities can be better coordinated.

Besides that, from an environmental point of view, the study of sea currents can be useful in forecasting how contaminants will spread in the event of an accidental discharge. This helps to act quicker in containing and minimizing environmental harm. Considering all these important factors, an accurate and convenient measurement method is believed to be very useful for the ocean current measurement in the Kunda port.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

The ADCPs apply the Doppler principle in their working. The ADCP sends an acoustic signal into the water, which is then scattered by the moving water particles. Because the water particles are moving due to the ocean current, they shift the frequency of the reflected acoustic signal that is received back by the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). According to the Doppler effect, this frequency shift is related to the velocity of the water flow. By analyzing the frequency shift, the ADCP can calculate the speed and direction of the water flow. By emitting signals at multiple angles and different depths, the ADCP current profiler can create a profile of the ocean current-it shows how the current varies with depth.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement Methods

Shipborne ADCP: A shipborne ADCP is installed on ships operating in the Kunda port area. While the ship is moving around in the port, it continuously sends acoustic signals into the water from beneath the vessel. This movement of the ship enables the ADCP flow meter to cover a wider area for current data collection. For instance, while conducting a normal survey of the port by a research or inspection ship using a shipborne ADCP, it would have recorded data across different parts of the port regarding the current patterns in order to understand the prevailing situation in water flow.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are deployed at certain fixed locations within the port such as on the seabed near important areas of navigation or at the entrance/exit of the port. These ADCPs continuously monitor the currents of the ocean at fixed positions over long periods of time. The data collected is useful in analyzing the regular current patterns in specific areas of the port. For example, a bottom-mounted ADCP profiler at the entrance to the port would record the currents flowing in and out and give an indication of tidal and other regular flow patterns in the area.

4. What is required to obtain a good measurement of the currents in Kunda port?

Equipment Requirements

Certain equipment characteristics are important for high - quality measurement of the currents in Kunda port. First is the reliability of the material. The equipment should withstand the strong marine environment of corrosion by seawater. Seawater has different salts and chemicals that degrade materials with time. The equipment also has to resist a pressure change depending on the depth of the water and the mechanical forces due to waves and currents.

It should be of smaller size and weight and with lower power consumption. The reasons for a small size are easier installation at different locations within the port, whether on ships, fixed structures such as piers, or on the seabed. Its light weight therefore simplifies its installation and transportation. This brings lower power consumption, enabling equipment to operate for extended lengths of time with minimal battery replacement and exorbitant power supplies, especially in the case of long-term monitoring applications.

Cost is another important factor. The lower the cost, the more measuring devices that can be installed by the port to monitor the current in as many areas as possible.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing The casing of ADCPs is preferably made from titanium alloy. Due to the high degree of corrosion resistance, the titanium alloy remains structurally and functionally good even after prolonged exposure to seawater. Its high strength-to-weight ratio allows the casing to be durable yet reasonably lightweight. For example, in the deeper parts of the Kunda port where higher water pressures are present, an ADCP with a titanium alloy casing can effectively withstand these pressures and continue to provide accurate current measurements.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: This would be quite appropriate in conducting wide-area surveys of the port waters while the ship is in operation. Because the ship would need to maneuver around, different areas of the port can be covered, resulting in the gathering of a substantial amount of data to achieve a general overview of the current situation in the whole port area. This is useful for mapping the general flow patterns and their variations across different areas of the port waters.

Sitting - bottom ADCP : for long - term fixed - point monitoring of specified positions in a port near important infrastructures or areas of interest with complex current behaviors. They would be able to continuously record the current data at those fixed positions and give insights on the local current characteristics and how they change over time.

Buoy-mounted ADCPs: These can be used when it is not convenient to install fixed equipment on the seabed or on ships. They float on the water surface and can measure the currents in the upper layers of the water column. They are relatively easy to deploy and may be relocated if needed, thus being very suitable for monitoring certain dynamic or hard-to-reach areas within the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

The selection of ADCPs' frequency is influenced by the water depth at Kunda port. Normally, where the water depth does not exceed 70 meters, ADCPs with frequencies of 600 kHz are seen to be good devices in general because they offer dependable current measurements within these relatively shallow depths. In the case of deeper waters, up to approximately 110 meters, an ADCP with a frequency of 300 kHz is more advisable. For very deep parts of the port, with water depth reaching up to a 1000-meter mark, the recommended frequency of an ADCP is 75 kHz to ensure reliable profiling of ocean currents when such great depths are dealt with.

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.