Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the affected area at an ocean disposal site, in terms of sediment dispersion, as a consequence of the dis-posal of dredged material from the approach channel for Buenaventura´s Port. The analysis was carried out at three points within Buenaven-tura´s Bay, one located at the authorized disposal site, a second point at a proposed future disposal site and a third point at the Bocana Sector, where the highest tidal velocities are identified. The PTM (Particle Tracking Model) mathematical model was used for this investigation, showing that due to the hydrodynamic conditions, a sediment particle can reach a longer dispersion distance from its original disposal point. Finally, sediment dispersion at the three analysis points were compared in terms of current velocity and maximum displacement.
Highlights
Buenaventuras port is the main port of Colombia; it is located along the Pacific Coast and it handles an import/export cargo of nearly 15 million tons per year
The PTM numeric model can be applied to estimate de maximum sediment displacement at a particular discharge point within a bay area. It applies the hydrodynamic conditions, such as tides and currents, and calculates the particles movement based on its critical shear stress, critical velocity and particle size. For this investigation the PTM was applied as a tool to determine whether or not the disposal of dredged material at an oceanic disposal site, causes the sediment particles to spread at high distances from its original point
Results showed that for the current disposal site at Buenaventura’s Bay Area, once the dredged material is disposed the sediments can have a displacement of up to 45.0 m from its original disposal point. In this current disposal site, tidal velocities are of much lower magnitude as those shown at the Inner Bay Area
Summary
Buenaventuras port is the main port of Colombia; it is located along the Pacific Coast and it handles an import/export cargo of nearly 15 million tons per year. The port has an approach channel of nearly 34 km in length, divide in two sections: Inner Channel (from K0 to K15) and Outer Channel (from K15 to K34).[1] The approach channel is maintained annually by the execution of a maintenance dredge work in order to keep the navigation channel in its design conditions, both in width and depth. These maintenance dredge works remove a volume of approximately 2.2 million m3 of sediments along the navigation channel and take approximately 2 months to be fully executed. This last point served as a control point for this investigation
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