Determination of optimal navigation route from Opobo channel to the bonny river entrance: rivers state, Nigeria
- International Journal of Hydrology
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Andy Naka Nwikinane, Tamunokuro Amos Opuaji, Eze Promise Ikenda
Abstract
The study area is not always navigable at all times and have impede safe navigation such as passages of boats and loaded barges of varying sizes. The fear of unknown bathymetric components and the need to determine optical navigational route in the river channel under study are inevitable. The research adopted quantitative method of depth determination, tidal and river current velocity measurement. Tidal observations were carried out in 30 minutes interval for a period of two months, acoustic bathymetric and current velocity measurement were also carried out to determine the river bed topography and current flow rate in the study area. The results from the bathymetric charts shows that only one optimal navigational route exist at low tide and three optimal navigational routes to the Opobo channel from the entrance of the Bonny River. The result also revealed that the main Opobo channel is navigable at all times (low or high tide). Lowest and highest sounded depth of 0.10m and 16.70m were noted. The study also revealed a high river current velocity of 0.434m/s at Opobo channel entrance to the Bonny River and a semidiurnal tide with two low and two high water respectively.
Keywords
navigation, route, depth, Opobo, bonny