Hyd/Met station at Gothenburg Harbour, Sweden

Gothenburg harbour, the largest port in Scandinavia, has used Aanderaa equipment to assure safe navigation and smooth operations for more than 20 years. The systems measure meteorological and hydrological parameters on three critical locations along the main shipping lane. Data is presented in real-time to the approaching ships over AIS (message 8) and the internet as a cellphone application in the ViVa system, developed by the Swedish Navigational Authorities and included more than 100 stations.

Meteorological sensors are mounted on existing structures on a lighthouse and at the end of piers. Air parameters measured include wind and visibility. The underwater part of the system delivers information on water level, temperature, and density at the bottom and at the surface and the prevailing currents at multiple depths from the bottom to the surface.

Two generations of multiparameter and acoustic profiling instruments have been used at the sites. Soon the systems in operation will be upgraded with SeaGuard II instruments (link). These are placed in frames on the seafloor and connected by an underwater signal and power cable to the shore station. This cable has extra protection at the location where it enters the water and typically lasts for 7-10 years.

The data loggers at the shore stations are SmartGuards (link) connected to 4g modems that send data to the ViVa system server from which it is sent out on AIS and to the internet. The systems can measure many additional parameters like particles and mixing of the water column. These are stored on-board an SD card in the instruments and can be downloaded by connecting to the instruments, which have full two-way communication.