Assess the Main Factors Affecting the International Marina of Taba Heights at the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt

Mohamed Hamza Hasan

Aquatic Environment Department, Faculty of Fish Resources, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2014.61004                

Abstract

The increase in maritime traffic means that ports have to continuously improve their efficiency. This involves reducing the inactivity caused by adverse conditions that affect its operation and maintenance which includes the sedimentation rate, the shallow depth, water current regimes and tidal cycle. This study examines the hypothesis that these factors could affect Taba Heights international marina. The results showed that the harbor offered very good protection against sediment deposition (rate of sediment deposition ranging from 0.2 to 1.9 mg·cm^-2·day^-1) and currents (two main currents having opposite directions, the first at bearing 261 degree North with mean speed of 3.5 cm/sec., the second at bearing 85 degree North with mean speed of 4.5 cm/sec), while it had a suitable tidal range (0.3 m for neap tidal range and 0.9 m for spring tidal range). The bathymetric study of the marina area showed deeper water at the approaching channel (3.5 to 4.0 meters deep) and inside the marina (3.0 - 4.0 m) than the surrounding marine areas (0.5 to 1.5 meters). The data obtained illustrated that all the investigated factors had limited effect on the operation of Taba Hieghts international marina.

Keywords

International Marina; Current; Sedimentation Rate; Bathymetry; Tide; Gulf of Aqaba; Red Sea

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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