ENGINEERING PELAGIC CONDITIONALITY ADVANTAGE OF IBAKA/EFFIAT MBO LITTORAL ZONE FOR DEEP SEAPORT

Abstract

Identifying a suitable location for a deep seaport requires a comprehensive study of the surrounding pelagic conditions to ensure its sustainability and economic viability. The Ibaka/Effiat Mbo Littoral Zone in Nigeria has been identified as a potential site for a deep seaport, but a thorough investigation of the pelagic conditionality advantage of this location is required to determine its feasibility. This study aims to explore the engineering pelagic conditionality advantage of the Ibaka/Effiat Mbo bay Littoral Zone. The research will focus on analyzing its navigation channel, including water depth and tidal variations for deep seaport citing considering the flows at full tide and ebb tidal waves fluctuations, of which occurrences usually take place diurnal (daily cycles). Field studies were conducted using sonars and other equipment to measure water depths at regular intervals - 5m chainage and also important noticeable watermarks. For full tide, the initial chainage point (first point) which is the upstream, the values from the first to third chainages were zeros and then each subsequent point has its values (water depth) with respect to that location, exception of the last chainage point (Downstream) which at the first and third chainages have values of zeros while the second chainage has a depth of 3.97m. Similarly, for low tide, the initial chainage (Upstream) has zeros values from the first to third chainages with each subsequent chainage also with values of zeros exception of the last chainage point (Downstream) which at second chainage has a depth of 0.15m. The aspect ratio of the channel is about 5.83 and a bifurcation factor of about 0.13 enabling it to have excellent maneuverability which gives it assurance of openness with no difficulty to access berthing quay for large vessels. The zero reading up to five (5) chainages shows the essential nature of dry or gently moist shore towards the sea without water and suddenly a little further distance enters into deep water. Results validate the accessible of the beach area and its penetrability from the coast. Indeed, Ibaka/Effiat Mbo bay is a natural habour.

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KEYWORDS: Seaport, Water Depth, Habour, Berthing, Gulf of Guinea