Role of Non-Orthogonal Hydrodynamic and Sedimentation Model for Port Facilities Analysis on Port of Kuala Tanjung

Abstract

The port-channel and the availability of piers are strongly influenced by physical environmental conditions such as sea current, sea tide, sediment transport, and wave. The best size of vessel and pier length depends on the location’s demand and sea environment. The uncertainty of these environmental factors results in the low efficiency of port infrastructure, the load factor for back cargo, and the reliability level of port users. This paper presents the role of MuHydro3D and MuSed3D software, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic, and sedimentation models to determine the best vessel size. Using a non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinate technique, also known as the boundary-fitted technique, MuHydro3D and MuSed3D can accurately and quickly simulate the environmental conditions at the port. Knowledge of environmental conditions is expected to be an accurate basis in determining the depth and dredging duration, pier length, ship size, or the need of breakwater. The Port of Kuala Tanjung is one of Indonesia’s designated international hubs and was chosen as the case study in this paper. The result shows that the sedimentation rate of dredging for a vessel with up to 3,000 TEUs capacity is not too sensitive. Moreover, a vessel design with an approximate capacity of 3,000 TEUs is the optimum size from the pier length aspect.