Measurement of Ocean Current by ADCP at Bushehr Port

1. Where is Bushehr Port

The Bushehr Port is located on the southern coast of Iran, with a view to the Persian Gulf. Its geographical position makes it one of the most important in the region due to its position as a key link for Iranian trade within the Middle East and with international partners. It stands near the crucial shipping lanes and offers easy access to a great network of Asian, European, and African ports.

Port Scale and Throughput

Bushehr Port is an average to big-sized port, with considerable berth capacity. In fact, there are several berths in Bushehr, each with specific vessel types intended for it. These include berths for container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers, enabling a wide range of cargo transportation. The annual throughput of the port is relatively big and mainly based on facilities for handling Iranian oil exports. It is also responsible for the importation of such goods as industrial machinery, consumer goods, and construction material. It also plays a role in the local fishing industry, receiving and trading fish products.

Routes and Business

The routes of shipping vary in the port. It has direct links to major Middle - Eastern ports, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which act as the hub for trade in the region. There are also regular shipping lines to Asian ports such as Mumbai in India and Karachi in Pakistan, which would enable the exchange of goods between Iran and South Asia. In addition, it is linked to the European ports by longer-distance shipping routes. It is involved in a number of business activities; oil and gas transportation, general cargo handling, and transshipment operations.

Port Management and Operation

Operated through the National Port and Maritime Organization of Iran by the local port authorities, Bushehr Port operates in view of safety, efficiency, and legality. Management is responsible for upkeep such as berths, quays, and storage facilities; enforcement of international shipping regulations, safety standards, and environmental protection is their endeavor. The port authority works in cooperation with shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders for easy operations so as to raise the competitiveness of the port.

Port Facilities

The port is well equipped with modern facilities for handling various cargo types. There are container-handling cranes which load and unload containers efficiently from vessels. General-purpose cranes are available for handling other types of dry cargo. In the case of liquid cargo, mainly oil and gas, there are specific pipelines and storages. For dry goods, the port facility has warehouses; for bulk commodities, it also has open-air yards. Besides, it also has basic facilities for ship-repair and maintenance to support its shipping activities accordingly.

Waterways and Direct Navigation

Continuous dredging has been carried out to keep the waterways toward the Bushehr Port clear, so vessels can reach the facility with ease and safety. There is a well-defined channel within the port. There are buoys available in addition to lighthouses, which help ships navigate their way into the port. It is directly connected with the Persian Gulf, whereby vessels can easily join the global shipping network.

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

Navigation Safety

Knowledge of ocean currents around Bushehr Port is accurate and important to ensure safe navigation. Currents in the Persian Gulf are very complicated and influenced by tides, wind, and the exchange of water masses with the Arabian Sea. The influence of such currents on vessel movement may be very high, especially during berthing, unberthing, and navigation in the port channels. By measuring the ocean currents, captains of ships can make better decisions, change navigation strategies, and avoid potential collisions or groundings.

Port Operations Optimization

Ocean current data is vital for optimizing port operations. In the berthing of vessels, great consideration must be taken of the direction and strength of the current. A strong current can make the berthing process more difficult and time-consuming. With correct current measurements, port operators are better positioned to determine the most appropriate times for vessel maneuvers and optimize resource utilization, hence increasing the general efficiency of cargo-handling operations. The tugs and floating cranes necessary to handle the vessels are also subject to currents, and proper understanding of the same raises both safety and productivity of operations.

Environmental Protection

This provides the basis for measurement in the port area for the protection of the ocean currents. Currents are an important means of dispersing pollutants. In the event of an oil spill or the release of other dangerous substances, knowledge of the pattern of currents can provide valuable forecasting of the spread of contaminants. This allows environmental managers to take timely preventive and cleanup measures against damage to the sensitive marine ecosystem of the Persian Gulf and surrounding coastal areas.

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) has become a valuable instrument for measuring ocean currents at Bushehr Port with great accuracy and in real-time.

3. Working of ADCPs Using the Doppler Principle

Measurement Principle

An ADCP current profiler is based on the principle of the Doppler effect. When the ADCP sends an acoustic signal into the column of water, the waved sound meets the so-called suspension particles in the water, like sediment and small organisms. Since these particles are moving with the water current, the frequency of the sound waves reflected back to the ADCP is different from the originally transmitted frequency. This frequency shift, well known as the Doppler shift, is measured by the ADCP. By utilizing the Doppler equation, the instrument calculates the water current velocity at different depths in the water column.

Specific Methods in Port Current Measurement

• Ship-borne ADCP: The ADCP installed on a moving vessel. The ADCP flow meter would be able to measure the current velocity at several depths along the track of the ship while the ship navigates through the waters in Bushehr Port. It is a useful method to get a broad-scale view of the current conditions in the port, which is helpful for large-scale navigation planning.
• Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are installed at fixed locations in the port, like on the seabed or fixed structures such as piers or buoys. These ADCPs can monitor the current condition at a given point continuously for a long time and thus deliver important information on the long-term trends and local variations of the currents.

4. What is necessary to achieve good quality measurement of Bushehr Port currents?

Reliability of Equipment

The ADCP equipment should be very reliable to make high-quality current measurements in Bushehr Port. Given the marine environment of the Persian Gulf, which has high salinity, high temperatures, and can be exposed to sand and dust, it requires the ADCP to work without frequent breakdowns. Reliability means continuous collection of data that is critical for analysis and subsequent decision-making.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

The ADCP should be compact in size and lightweight. This makes it easier to install, especially in situations where space is limited, such as on small local vessels or in confined port structures. Low power consumption is also a key factor, as it allows for long - term operation, especially for fixed - installed ADCPs that may rely on battery - powered or solar - powered systems.

Cost - effectiveness

This is necessary so that the ADCP will have a reasonable cost, thus allowing large-scale measurement in the port area. By reasonable cost, one would be able to deploy several units, if needed, for getting extensive current data from various parts of the port.

Material Selection

The ADCP housing is preferably made of titanium alloy. Besides this, titanium alloy grants excellent resistance to corrosion that becomes necessary for long-term use in the salty marine environment of the Persian Gulf. Besides that, it is also strong enough and light to cover both the criteria of strength and lightness in ease of installation.

5. How to Choose the Right Equipment for Current Measurement?

Based on Usage

• Ship - borne ADCP: These are ideal to undertake large - scale surveys in the port area. In general, when any ship has a need to acquire quickly the wide-range current situation, a ship - borne ADCP is desired.
• Sit - on - bottom ADCP: Applicable for very long - period observation of special places in a port, at or near entrances or near the berth.
• Buoy - mounted ADCP: It is ideal for getting information at the water surface and also for areas where fixed - bottom installation is not possible.

By Frequency

• For a water depth of 70m, an ADCP with 600kHz frequency is ideal.
• For water depth up to 110m, a 300kHz ADCP is appropriate.
• When the water area is deeper, a 75kHz ADCP is ideal.

The first ones are rather famous brands, including Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. But there is a highly recommendable option of a cost-effective and quality one from the Chinese brand-the China Sonar PandaADCP. It uses an all-titanium alloy body, and due to that fact, the Panda ADCP provides great endurance in the sea conditions and excellent value for its cost. You can learn more about them on their website at https://china-sonar.com/.

Here is a table with some well known Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) instrument brands and models.