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

1. Where is the Tivoli Port

Port of Tivoli must be one of the smaller-sized varieties; its precise character can differ depending on the site, as there are more than one place called Tivoli. If we presuppose the one to be some form of maritime-related port, it usually comes upon a coastline.

Scale and Throughput of Port

• Scale: It might have a relatively small- to medium-scale. The infrastructure in the port could be designed for vessels in a certain range, such as small- to medium-sized fishing boats, local cargo ships, and perhaps some pleasure craft.
• Throughput: The throughput would typically consist of local trade goods. For example, it could handle the catches of the local fishing fleet, agricultural products from nearby farms, and building materials for the local community.

Routes and Business

• Shipping Routes: Tivoli port's shipping routes are likely to be more focused on local and regional connections. It might have regular routes to nearby ports for the transportation of goods and people.
• Business Activities: The main business activities could be about fishing with the port as the base for the local fishermen. It can handle small-scale cargo shipment dealings that concern local industries and tourism-related activities such as boat rentals and ferry services to attend to local sightseeing events.

Port Management and Operation

The port management would strive to offer good services to the community and businesses alike. The vessels that frequent the port regularly would be provided with good berthing arrangements. There would be safety to protect the boats and the users from any form of hazard.

The activities in operation will encompass: cargo operations, ensuring the smooth flow of fishing activities, and ensuring that vessels and passengers enjoy basic facilities.

Port Facilities

• Berths: A few berths designed according to the size of common vessels making use of the port. The berths might have simple mooring equipment.
• Cargo-handling Equipment: Simple cargo-handling equipment, such as small cranes or hoists, may be available for loading and unloading goods. In the case of fishing, there would be facilities to handle the catches, such as fish-handling areas and storage.
• Storage Facilities: There would be some storage areas for fish, cargo, and equipment. These could include small warehouses or open-air storage spaces.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of the port would be kept clear for safe passage of the local vessels. It may not require extensive dredging as in major ports, but regular checks would be carried out to keep the water depth suitable.

It would have direct connections with the nearby ports for the transportation of goods and people. It would also facilitate local trade and tourism.

2. Importance of Measuring Ocean Currents in the Port of Tivoli

Navigation Safety

• Local vessels, mainly fishing and small cargo ships, have a vital need for precise current data. The possibility of hazardous situations for vessels due to unpredictable currents cannot be excluded during docking, undocking, and navigation. Thus, with precise current measurements, the port authorities would be in a better position to provide improved navigational instructions to vessels for accident avoidance.

Efficient Port Operations

• Currents can affect the docking and loading/unloading processes. For example, a strong current can make it difficult to position a boat accurately during docking. With accurate current data, the port can optimize these operations, reduce waiting times, and make the best use of its limited berthing space.

Environmental Protection

• Understanding ocean currents helps in monitoring the health of the local marine ecosystem. Currents can affect the distribution of nutrients, fish larvae, and other biological elements. By measuring the currents, the port can contribute to better understanding and conservation of the surrounding marine environment. ADCP provides a more advanced and convenient way to measure these currents compared to traditional methods.

3. How ADCPs (Using the Doppler Principle) Work

The working principle of ADCPs is based on the Doppler principle. It sends acoustic signals into the water. These signals come in contact with moving particles in the water, for example, suspended sediments or small organisms. When this happens, there is a reflection of acoustic signals back to the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP), accompanied by a frequency shift due to the Doppler effect. It measures this frequency shift and thus gives the velocity of the water particles or, in turn, that of the ocean current.

Ship-borne ADCP

Ship-borne ADCPs can be installed on local vessels, like fishing boats or small cargo ships. While the vessel is moving in the port and around the waters, the ADCP sends acoustic pulses in various directions, generally downwards and sideways. According to the travel of the vessel, the device measures current velocity at multiple depths. This creates a fine-resolution profile of the now conditions along the vessel's track, thus giving an extensive view of the current patterns in areas covered by the vessel.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs can be installed in places around the port, on the bottom of the sea close to the berths, or at the entrance of the channel. These ADCPs provide continuous measurement of current at a single point for an extended period. Data collected for a long period becomes valuable information for long-term characteristics of the current at certain key areas in the port, like at the entrance of the channel or near the berths.

4. Requirements for High - Quality Measurement of Tivoli Port Currents

Resistance of Equipment

• The materials of equipment for high - quality measurement of ocean currents in the Tivoli Port should be reliable. Due to its corrosive character, seawater and probable physical influences from the marine medium, the device should be able to resist those conditions.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

• A small size, light weight, and low power consumption are beneficial. A compact and lightweight ADCP is easier to install and operate, whether on a boat or at a fixed location. Low power consumption allows for continuous operation without frequent battery replacement or high energy demands.

Cost - effectiveness

• Cost-effectiveness is another important aspect to enable it to be deployed on a wide scale in the port. It needs to give good value for money by meeting the required performance standard. The casing of ADCP is preferably made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has excellent corrosion resistance in seawater, ensuring the long-term integrity of the device. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning it can be strong and durable while maintaining a relatively low weight. Besides, titanium alloy is biocompatible, reducing the potential negative impact on the marine environment.

5. Selection of Appropriate Equipment for Current Measurement

Ship-borne ADCP

• This is ideal for when a general idea of the current in different areas of the port is desired. As the vessel navigates throughout the port, the ship-borne ADCP is able to collect data at each point, offering a broad-scale image of the current structures across the port waters.

Bottom - mounted (Sitting on the seabed) ADCP

• This kind of ADCP is most suitable for long-term 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 ADCPs find applications in areas where a fixed device on the seabed or a boat is not practical. They can be deployed in open water areas within the port for measurements of currents at different depths.

On the selection of frequency, different frequencies are suitable for different water depths. A 600 kHz ADCP is suitable 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.