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

1. Where is Tornio Port?

Overview of Tornio Port

Tornio Port is situated in the town of Tornio, in the region of Lapland, Finland. It is a port of essential scale and throughput. The port is very important for both domestic and international trade in the region. In terms of its scale, it can handle a wide variety of cargo, from bulk cargo such as iron ore, forest products like timber and pulp, to various industrial goods.

It receives a constant stream of shipments throughout the year and generates a very significant portion of the regional and local economy in terms of throughput. The shipping lanes place it in contact with most other ports in the Baltic Sea as well as others beyond. Shipping activities include imports and exports, and one of its main business lines is the transportation of raw materials for several industries and exporting the products manufactured from such raw materials.

Management is quite efficient and focused on smooth functionality at the Tornio Port. There are well-organized teams that manage the vessel traffic, cargo handling, and customs procedures properly. Adoption of advanced technologies is going on so that the overall efficiency of the port gets augmented, starting from automated cargo-handling systems to advanced digital communication platforms to assure better coordination among the different departments.

Facilities in Port

Berths: These are many berths at this port for receiving different kind of vessels. There may be the availability of the berth which is suitable for medium - sized cargo ships and also for huge vessels containing bulk materials. For safe docking and undocking of ships, these are fitted with the latest type of mooring and advanced facilities. Very good types of fenders and bollards are put up against the forces given by vessels during docking and undocking.

Cargo-handling Equipment: There is a range of cargo-handling equipment along the quay. For iron ore and other bulk minerals, there are conveyor systems and grabs that can efficiently transfer materials from the ships to the storage areas. For forest products, there are cranes and special conveyor belts for moving logs and pulp. In addition, for containerized cargo, gantry cranes are available to load and unload containers.

Storage Facilities: Huge areas of storage for different kinds of cargo are prebooked. In the bulk group, besides iron ore, huge stockpiles are appropriately drained and contained to prevent spillage and environmental issues; forest products, the storage yards are available with protection against elements, container yards, and warehouses for other general cargo.

Channel and Navigation Aids: The channel in a port is dredged into an appropriate depth and width allowing the safe passage of vessels through it. Dredging was done periodically to ensure access for vessels with variable drafts. Therefore, buoys, beacons, and even radar systems were installed to facilitate the entrance and exit for ships into and from such ports. The radar systems provide real-time information about the position and movement of other vessels in the vicinity of the port.

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

Importance for Port Operation and Management

Measuring ocean currents in Tornio Port is of great significance. Firstly, for the safety of vessel navigation. The ship captains depend on precise knowledge of the speed and direction of the currents when approaching the berths or when navigating the channel of the port. A strong cross - current near a berth may create serious challenge and risk during the process of docking. Such adjustments may be in the instance of a ship approaching the berth against a strong current, where careful adjustments are made in regard to speed and angle of approach. With correct current measurement, the chances of collision and accidents go down significantly.

The other crucial reason is that it's vital for the optimization of the port's operations. Present data assists the port authorities in scheduling the arrival and departure of ships with much more ease. Understanding the tidal currents and other regular flow patterns enables better allocation of berthing resources and more efficient planning of loading and unloading activities. This leads to improved productivity as it allows for seamless coordination of cargo - handling operations.

In addition, from the point of view of the environment, in the case of an accidental spill from a ship or port facility, knowledge of ocean currents is important. Based on the nature of cargo transported in the port, it is very crucial to predict the spread based on current patterns for containment and mitigation measures in the quickest manner to minimize damage to the environment.

More modern and easier ways of measuring ocean currents in the port have been through ADCPs. They are very effective in providing real - time and accurate data that can be of immense benefit in many of the above-mentioned aspects of port management.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

Measurement Principle

ADCPs work on the principle of the Doppler. An ADCP current profiler emits an acoustic signal into the water; due to the movement of water particles, this signal is reflected. These reflected sound waves are received back by the ADCP meter with a frequency shift caused by the moving water particles due to the ocean current. By the Doppler effect, this frequency shift is directly related to the velocity of the water flow. By precisely analyzing the magnitude and direction of this frequency shift, the ADCP profiler calculates the speed and direction of the ocean current at different depths in the water column.

ADCP Deployment in the Port

Shipborne ADCP: One shipborne ADCP will be installed on ships operating within the Tornio Port area. During the movement of the ship around the port, ADCP current meter will continuously emit acoustic signals into the water. The movement of the ship allows the ADCP meter to cover a wide area and collect current data from multiple locations. For instance, during regular surveys of the port by research or inspection ships equipped with shipborne ADCPs, comprehensive data on the current patterns across various parts of the port can be gathered, thus providing a detailed understanding of the water flow situation.

Fixed ADCP: The fixed ADCPs are deployed at certain fixed locations within the port, like on the seabed near important navigational areas or at the entrance/exit of the port. These ADCPs continuously monitor the ocean currents at their fixed positions over an extended period. The data collected by them is extremely useful for analyzing the regular current patterns in specific areas of the port. For example, a bottom-mounted ADCP at the port entrance may measure the incoming and outgoing currents to understand the tidal effects and other consistent flow characteristics of that area.

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

Equipment Requirements

For high-quality measurement of the currents in Tornio port, a number of equipment characteristics are important. First of all, material reliability is crucial. The equipment must be resistant to the harsh marine environment. Seawater contains salts and other chemicals that destroy the materials after some time. Besides, the equipment has to stand pressure changes depending on the depth of water and mechanical forces caused by waves and currents.

Secondly, it should be smaller in size, lighter in weight, and low in power consumption. The compact size would be convenient to install at different locations within the port on the vessels, on fixed structures like piers, or on the seabed. Lighter in weight, it is easy to install and transport. Lower power consumption allows the equipment to operate continuously for extended periods without the need for frequent battery replacement or excessive power supply, especially for applications requiring long-term monitoring.

Cost is also another factor. A lower-cost solution would enable the port to deploy a larger number of measuring devices for more comprehensive current monitoring across different areas of the port.

The Advantage of Titanium Alloy for ADCP Casing

The casing in ADCPs is preferred to be made from a titanium alloy. This titanium alloy is very resistant to corrosion; it is durable when subjected to sea water for extended lengths of time. It maintains high strength-to-weight ratio thereby giving the construction of a reasonably strong but not-too-heavy casing. For example, an ADCP current profiler with a casing made of titanium alloy can easily withstand such pressures in the deeper parts of the Tornio port and keep on providing accurate current measurements.

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

Selection Based on Usage

Shipborne ADCP: If the objective is to carry out wide-area surveys of the port waters during vessel operations, then the shipborne ADCP will be quite appropriate. In this way, it will be able to cover the various sections of the port as the ship moves around, collecting a lot of data for an overall understanding of the general current situation in the port. This is quite useful in mapping the general pattern of flow and variations throughout different areas of the port waters.

Sitting-bottom ADCP: The sitting-bottom ADCPs would be more appropriate for the fixed-point and long-term monitoring of certain places in the port area, such as around key infrastructures or areas where the flow is complex. They record continuously at those fixed positions, giving valuable information on the local current characteristics and possible changes over time.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: In situations 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 can measure the currents in the upper layers of the water column. Relatively easy to deploy and capable of relocation, if necessary, they are suitable for monitoring certain dynamic or hard-to-reach areas within the port.

Selection Based on Frequency

The water depth in Tornio port is the basis for choosing the frequency for ADCPs. Generally, areas with a water depth of up to 70 meters will have an ADCP with a frequency of 600 kHz since it can give quite good current measurements in this relatively shallow depth range. When dealing with deeper waters up to about 110 meters, an ADCP meter of 300 kHz is more advisable. In very deep sections of the port, where the water depth reaches up to 1000 meters, an ADCP flow meter with a frequency of 75 kHz is recommended to ensure reliable profiling of the ocean currents at such great depths.

There are several well-known ADCP current meter 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.