Application of ADCP in Ocean Current Measurement of Tanjung Priok Port

1. Where is Tanjung Priok port?

Tanjung Priok port is in Jakarta Bay, North Jakarta, Indonesia. It serves as a gateway for most of Indonesia's international trade and has the busiest and largest port in the country.

Scale of the port and Throughput

Large scale of port with huge throughput. It is a major container port and also deals with a wide range of other cargo types, including bulk cargo-bulk cargo like coal, grains, and minerals, liquid cargo like petroleum and chemicals, and general cargo. The annual container traffic stands in millions of TEUs, and the overall cargo volume is steadily on the rise. It is designed to handle several big vessels at the same time, including super-post-panamax container ships.

Routes and Business

Tanjung Priok is connected to a number of shipping routes. Centrally, it works in the country for onward distribution to other Indonesian ports domestically. Internationally, these are major ports in each of the continents, especially in Asian, European, and American centers of commerce. The kinds of business activities are legion. It imports a wide array of merchandise, including machinery, consumer electronics, and luxury products, while exporting Indonesian staples like palm oil, rubber, and textiles.

Port Management and Operation

The port management is very sophisticated, with a view to ensuring smooth and efficient operations. The port authority ensures that vessel traffic management, cargo handling, and storage are among the many concerns it deals with. Advanced information systems are in place to monitor and manage the flow of ships and goods. Safety and security are top priorities, with strict security protocols in place to protect the port from various threats, including piracy and terrorism.

Port Facilities

The port is equipped with state - of - the - art facilities. It has a large number of deep - water berths with different lengths and drafts to accommodate various types of ships. There are advanced container cranes and other cargo - handling equipment that can handle high - volume and heavy - load operations. The storage facilities are enormous: vast container yards, warehouses for different types of goods, and specialized storage for hazardous materials and perishable items. Besides, there are comprehensive ship - repair and maintenance facilities.

Channels and Direct Routes

Tanjung Priok port possesses good channels that are continuously dredged to ensure there is no hazard in navigating big vessels. The facilities include direct shipping routes to practically all key ports in the world. These channels have been crucial in allowing for efficient ships and cargo movements, thus giving a leeway to this port's high-volume trades.

2. Why is there a need to carry out ocean current measurements in the Tanjung Priok port?

Measuring currents in the ocean at the Tanjung Priok port is highly essential. In the first instance, this contributes to the safety of the various vessels coming to the port. Its high volume of traffic therefore means that strong or unanticipated currents are capable of causing severe accidents. How exact the present measurement is greatly serves the ships to dock or undock. Thus, allowing port authorities to provide Captains of ships with real time current data, precise maneuvering by the captains in reducing collision and damage on vessels and infrastructure within a given port can be achieved easily.

Second, efficient port operations are based on the understanding of contemporary patterns. Ocean currents come into play in cargo handling and storage. For example, knowledge of the currents helps in planning the most efficient loading and unloading points for different types of cargo. This leads to reduced waiting times for ships, optimization of the use of port facilities, and, finally, reduced operational costs.

Besides, from an environmental point of view, actual measurements are required. They will be able to give insight into the dispersion of pollutants and sediments in the port area. The information is also indispensable in maintaining a healthy marine environment and for the planning of dredging and other coastal engineering works necessary for the long-term sustainability of the port. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) offers a more advanced and convenient method of measuring these currents compared to traditional techniques.

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

In principle, an ADCP current meter is based on the Doppler effect. An ADCP current profiler sends out acoustic signals into the water. Moving particles in the water transport these signals and due to a phenomenon called the Doppler effect, the reflected signal changes frequency.

Ship-borne ADCP

In the inshore Tanjung Priok port, a shipborne ADCP is on board of a vessel; therefore, as the vessel passes through at various speeds through the waters of its voyage, it sends acoustic pulses either upwards or sideways. Reflected signals received from the column of water are analyzed. The Doppler shift in these signals is used to calculate the velocity of the water current at different depths. By this means, the structure of the current can be profiled as the ship travels through the area.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs can be installed on piers or buoys. They send out acoustic signals continuously in a downward-looking direction. The reflected signal is then analyzed for the Doppler shift. By continuously measuring the current in one location, a fixed ADCP can record long-term current velocities and directions, which will be useful in understanding the current behavior near the entrance of the port or any other critical area.

4. What is required for high-quality measurement of Tanjung Priok port currents?

For high-quality current measurement in the Tanjung Priok port, the equipment should be made of reliable materials. The small-sized and lightweight design is very useful, especially for ship-borne ADCPs. This allows for easy installation and transportation.

Low power consumption, especially for fixed ADCPs, has to be in operation continuously. Cost-effectiveness ensures deployment of multiple devices with less cost for comprehensive current measurement.

The casing of the ADCP flow meter is preferably made up of titanium alloy. The material possesses excellent corrosion resistance, which is significant in the marine environment in the port. Seawater in Tanjung Priok port will corrode ordinary metals. For that reason, the usage of the titanium alloy can withstand the corrosive effects of seawater, hence long-time durability of the equipment. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio that helps in reducing the overall weight of the device while maintaining its structural integrity.

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

Based on Usage

Ship-borne ADCP: This equipment is meant to measure currents even when the vessel is on the go. It could be mounted in ships from Tanjung Priok Port and measures current in areas where the vessel navigates, providing necessary support in navigation and operation decisions.

Sediment ADCP Sit-on-bottom ADCP: Suitable for long-term fixed-point monitoring of near-bed currents. This could be applied in the port to monitor the current behavior at a particular location, for instance near the berths or around structures underwater.

Buoy-based ADCP: This is applied when one has to monitor the currents of a particular area over a longer period and has some flexibility in location. For instance, in the Tanjung Priok port, it could be installed in places where ships are unlikely to pass frequently but would be relevant for overall monitoring of the current pattern.

Based on Frequency

For waters up to 70m deep, an ADCP with 600kHz is usually the right one. For deeper waters of about 110m, a 300kHz frequency will be more correct. For very deep waters at depths of up to 1000m, a 75 kHz ADCP is the right choice.

There are well-known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a recommended Chinese brand is China Sonar PandaADCP. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, providing excellent durability. It also offers an incredible cost-performance ratio. You can find more information about this brand on its website: (https://china-sonar.com/).

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