New environmental monitoring systems at two key Ghana ports

OceanWise has recently been involved in a project with Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) - dubbed as "the trade and logistics hub of Western Africa". The project involved installing a comprehensive environmental monitoring system at two key GPHA ports: Tema and Takoradi.

The tide and weather system is designed to deliver essential real-time tide and weather data to the GPHA operators, hydrographers and pilots who will rely on the data to make important operational decisions and ensure safety at the port. The data from the tide and weather stations is collected, managed and published in the OceanWise data publishing platform Port-Log which delivers reliable, secure data to those who need it, when they need it.

Not only do the tide gauges provide data to GPHA, they also form part of the GLOSS network (Global Sea Level Observing System). GLOSS was established by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in 1985 to establish a well-designed, high-quality in situ sea level observing network to support a broad research and operational user base. The two tide gauges at Tema and Takoradi are part of over 300 gauges that make up this important data network.

Following a successful visit by GPHA to the UK, the fully tested system which included two tide and weather stations, was shipped to Ghana where two OceanWise field engineers then installed the equipment, trained the local teams and oversaw the integration of the equipment and data into GPHA's existing systems. The site visit included establishing a network of benchmarks, with the aim of being able to tie the new data to one of the longest sea level datasets in Africa dating back to the 1920s.