Measurement of Ocean Currents Using ADCP Applied at Santander Port

1. Location of the Santander Port

Santander is a Spanish city located at its northern coast. Santander has been equipped with one important facility-a very strategically advantageous, valuable bay positioned at the Bay of Biscay.

The scale of port and throughput

The Santander port is of relatively big size and enjoys very high traffic volume. It is a well-equipped facility that handles almost all types of cargo, from containers and vehicles down to bulk cargo, such as foodstuffs and construction material. It receives a great volume of containers annually, making it an integral node in international trade flows. It is the regional and extra-regional gateway for imports and exports.

Routes and Business

This boasts of a large network in the form of shipping routes reaching out all along the two important seas that form its boundaries right across the Globe. The prime activities include the shipment of industrial produce, prepared foods as well as raw materials sourced in industries. There is also a thriving cruise industry wherein many cruises come every year bolstering the local tourist economy massively.

Port Management and Operation

The port is efficiently managed by the professional staff and ensures that any situation arising within the port premises is under control and regulated: whether it be the berthing arrangement of vessels, the procedure for cargo handling, or securities of all kinds. Advanced technologies and a management system flow are implemented to maximize the ships and cargo in reducing waiting time to achieve higher productivity. Other important focuses are environmental considerations, through the implementation of measures that reduce the impact of port activities on the environment.

Facilities

The facilities at the port are state of the art. Deepwater berths, which can accommodate large container ships among other vessels, exist. It also contains modern cranes for loading and unloading of containers and other heavy cargo besides vast storage areas that include temperature-controlled warehouses for perishable goods and open-air storage yards for bulk lot storage. In addition, there are ship repair and maintenance facilities along with services related to bunkering.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of the port is kept to a depth such that it provides for safe passage for ships. There are direct shipping links to the major ports of Europe, the Americas, and other continents. This network of direct shipping lines plays an important role in cutting down the time and expense involved in goods' movement through the port.

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

Measurement of currents in Santander Port is of great importance for several reasons. The first and most important is the safe navigation of ships, which requires correct current data. Currents in the Bay of Biscay can be complex and variable, and knowledge of such currents enables the ship captains to better plan entry and exit from the port. This is very important in preventing collisions and ensuring the safety of ships and port infrastructure.

In addition, as far as cargo handling is concerned in relation to the process of loading or unloading, ocean currents may provide grounds for disturbances. Thus, for floating cranes and barges used, there exists a need for considering the current influence to develop an accurate and effective method of transferring cargo. By understanding currents, this can enable a port to undertake its operations efficiently, minimizing risks associated with potential loss or damage of cargo or any piece of equipment.

Thirdly, knowledge about ocean currents is important in predicting sediment transport and in maintaining the depth of the channels and berths of the port. Current measurement is normally done regularly, providing very useful data for dredging operations and for safeguarding the long-term functionality of the port.

More modernly, the ADCP represents an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler method, more advanced and convenient for the current measurement; it provides real-time and multi-depth current data that is very valuable for the port's operation and management.

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

ADCPs work off the Doppler principle. These instruments emit acoustic signals in the water, which interact with particles or substances that are moving in the water current. When reflected back, there is a change in frequency of the reflected signal due to the Doppler effect. From this frequency shift, the velocity of the water current can be computed.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are those mounted on ships. While the ship is moving within the area of the port, it sends acoustic pulses downward and sideway; thus, the current velocity along its path of travel in various depths is measured. Real-time data will be transmitted to the navigation or monitoring system on the ship for use in real-time by the crew to make the proper course and speed adjustments.

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 monitor the ocean currents of a particular area continuously. The data from fixed ADCPs gives the long-term understanding of the current patterns in the port, useful for port planning and infrastructure maintenance.

4. What is needed for high-quality measurement of currents within Santander port?

The equipment to be used in measuring the currents in the Santander port should have the appropriate materials to serve such a purpose. Relating to the marine environment, it has to be firm against the corrosion by sea water and pressure changes. The device shall be relatively smaller in size, lighter in weight, and low in power consumption. Being of compact size ensures ease of installation at various points within the port. Low power consumption ensures longer-term operation without frequent battery replacements or power supply issues. Cost-effectiveness is also important in order to enable large-scale deployment of measurement equipment.

The casing in ADCP profiler is preferably made of titanium alloy. The extent of corrosion resistance present in a titanium alloy makes long-term use in seawater possible. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing it to bear high pressures without excessive addition of weight. It is also biocompatible and therefore very environment-friendly to marine life.

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

Usage Purpose

• Shipborne ADCP: This is suitable for measuring currents while the ship moves. It allows real-time updates of the present current conditions on which the ship sails through at the port, making it useful to be used for navigation and operational safety.
• Sitting-bottom ADCP: quite a good fitness for long-term fixed-point monitoring in a certain area of the port. The same view, regarding the current situation of this place, is constant. It will be good to learn about long-term current patterns for port infrastructure maintenance.
• Buoy-mounted ADCP: This is helpful in areas where it is not practical to install fixed equipment on the seabed or on ships. The buoy-mounted ADCP can float on the water surface and measure the currents around it, thus allowing flexibility in measurement locations.

According to Different Frequencies

• Up to 70m of water depth, a 600kHz ADCP would be quite suitable for accurate current measurement in relatively shallow water.
• Around 110m, the bottom-tracking velocity measurement will be more appropriate with a 300kHz ADCP since it will effectively measure the current at that depth.
• In deeper waters, with up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP is recommended for reliable current measurement.
• 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.