Application of ADCP to Ocean Current Measurement in Gijón-Musel Port

1. Where is Gijón-Musel Port?

Gijón - Musel Port is located in the northern coastal city of Spain, by the name of Gijón, and one of the regionally important maritime facilities.

Port Scale and Throughput

Large-scale, large-throughput cargo handling; huge range of cargoes include coals, steel products, and a great quantity of bulk and general cargo; the annual handling capacity of all kinds of goods is enormous; and it has played an important role in local and regional economic activities. It has played the role of a very important transportation hub for the industries based on sea navigation.

Route and Business

It has a well-interconnected network of shipping routes. The core business includes import and export of industrial raw materials and finished products. It also transports goods for the steel and energy industries. It is also emerging as a place of call for cruise ships that adds to the tourism business of the locality.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by a team of professionals who ensure efficient and safe operations. They oversee berthing arrangements, cargo handling procedures, and security measures. Advanced management systems are used to optimize the flow of ships and cargo, aiming to reduce waiting times and increase productivity. The port also focuses on environmental protection and sustainable development.

Port Facilities

The port has modern facilities, deep-water berths to handle big vessels such as bulk carriers and container ships; it also has modern equipment for loading and unloading goods like cranes and conveyor belts for various commodities. Besides, storage facilities are also provided in coal, steel, and other goods in the form of a warehouse or open-air storage yards.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of the port is maintained at a depth that allows the safe passage of ships. It has direct shipping links with other major Atlantic and Mediterranean ports. This web of direct shipping links reduces the time and cost of transport for companies using the port.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Gijón-Musel Port?

Current measurement in Gijón-Musel Port is very important. First, safe navigation of ships depends on the accuracy of data with regard to currents. Currents could give way to variation in the speed of the ships while negotiating entry or exit in the said port. Understanding the current pattern aids the captains in making decisions to avoid collision and prevent damage to vessels and structures within the port area.

Besides that, ocean currents may concern cargo handling; they could influence the stability of the floating equipment used for loading and unloading. This could be experienced with cranes or any other floating devices whereby the effect of the currents has to be put into consideration for proper and efficient handling of the cargoes.

Thirdly, knowledge of the ocean currents is essential in predicting sediment transport and maintaining the depth of the channels and berths of the port. Regular current measurements provide data that is very useful in planning dredging operations and safeguarding the long-term functionality of the port.

The ADCP current meter can be more intelligent and convenient than the traditional ways of current measurement. In addition, the real-time and multi-depth current data it provides mean a great contribution to the port's operation and management.

3. How does an ADCP using the Doppler Principle Work?

ADCPs work on the principle of Doppler. They emit an acoustic signal into the water. Particles or any other constituents which are moving with the water current scatter this signal. As this is a returning signal, because of the Doppler effect, the frequency of the reflected signal is shifted. By the analysis of a frequency shift, one can estimate the speed of the water current.

ADCP in the Measurement of Ocean Currents of Ports

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are a type of ADCP installed on ships. During the movement of the ship in the port area, the ADCP flow meter sends acoustic pulses downwards and sideways, delivering data on the current velocity at different depths along the path that the ship covers. The information collected is then sent to the ship's control in real time so that the crew can accordingly correct its course and speed.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed in fixed locations in the port, such as on the seabed or on the side of port structures. They continuously monitor the ocean currents in a particular area. The data collected by fixed ADCPs provides a long - term understanding of the current patterns in the port, which is useful for port planning and infrastructure maintenance.

4. What is required for good quality measurement of currents in Gijón-Musel port?

To measure high-quality currents in the Gijón - Musel port, the equipment should be made of reliable materials. It needs to bear all the aggressiveness of the marine environment: corrosion by seawater and variations in pressure. The dimension should be smaller; it should be lightweight and consume low power. The compact size allows for easy installation in various parts of the port, while low power consumption can be performed without frequent battery replacement or long-term operation that could be affected by problems in the power supply. Besides, cost-effectiveness is at a high level in enabling large-scale deployment of measurement equipment.

The casing of ADCP profiler should be made of titanium alloy. Titanium alloy has outstanding corrosion resistance for long-term application in seawater. Besides, it has a high strength-to-weight ratio that ensures it bears high pressure without adding excess weight to the device. Moreover, it is totally biocompatible, barely having any influence on the marine environment.

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

According to the Usage Purpose

• Shipborne ADCP: It is suitable for measuring currents during the movement of ships. It provides real-time data about the current conditions as the ship sails through the port, which is useful for navigation and operational safety.
• Sitting-bottom ADCP: The instrument best suits for the long-term fixed-point monitoring of the specified area in a port. It gives a view about the current situation continuously in that location, which is very much helpful for understanding the long-term current pattern and maintenance of port infrastructures.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: These are useful where fixed installations in the seabed or on a vessel are not practically possible. They float on the surface and measure the current flows around their own position, thus offering variable points of measurement.

According to Different Frequencies

• The 600kHz ADCP is good to go on water with a depth of up to 70m because it can provide accurate current measurements in relatively shallow water. A 300kHz ADCP will be quite appropriate for 110m depth because it can effectively measure the current at such depth. In depths up to 1000m, the 75kHz ADCP shall be the recommended type for reliable measurement of current.
• There are well-known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is also a great option. It is made of all-titanium alloy material and offers an excellent cost-performance ratio. You can visit its website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

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