Brian Barton
Marine animals have evolved over millions of years in an underwater soundscape that included waves, rain, fish sounds, and the songs of cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins. However, due to human activities, they now have to endure increasing levels of noise pollution. This noise can interfere with their ability to navigate, feed, and reproduce, and can also cause hearing loss, physical injury, and chronic stress. As a result, there is a growing need to reduce underwater noise pollution to protect marine life and the health of ocean ecosystems. While there are some simple ways to tackle this problem, such as reducing ship speeds and rerouting vessels away from sensitive areas, more widespread adoption of solutions is needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Regulate ocean noise | OceanCare has been advocating for quieter seas since 2002 |
| Reduce shipping noise | Slower shipping speeds, rerouting vessels away from sensitive areas, and reducing the number of ships can help |
| Ship design | Quieter propellers and engines, as well as improved hull design, can reduce noise |
| Ship maintenance | Polished and clean hulls and propellers can reduce noise |
| Policy solutions | The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has outlined voluntary guidelines for engineers and manufacturers, but these have been largely ineffective |
| Indigenous knowledge | The IMO's workplan includes engaging with Indigenous communities and incorporating their knowledge |
| Air injection technology | Hanwha Ocean's Masker-Air System creates an air curtain around a ship's hull to reduce noise |
| Underwater recorders | Researchers are encouraging the development of low-cost underwater recorders to study ocean noise |
| Synchronizing ship arrival times | This can decrease the cumulative time that marine animals are exposed to ship noise and create quiet periods |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce ship speed
Reducing ship speed is one of the most effective ways to reduce underwater noise pollution. Slowing down ships is a simple action that can have a significant impact on decreasing noise emissions. For example, reducing the speed of the global shipping fleet by 10-20% can cause a reduction of noise emissions by 40-67%.
The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) has recognized the need to address the harmful impacts of underwater noise. While previous work resulted in voluntary noise reduction guidelines, the non-mandatory nature led to limited uptake in the shipping sector. To address this, the subcommittee approved a work plan to revise the guidelines and develop comprehensive next steps to effectively reduce underwater noise.
One example of a successful speed reduction program is the voluntary initiative by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in British Columbia. The program recommends slower speeds for large ships in specific waters in southwestern British Columbia to reduce underwater noise. This initiative considers the local shipping traffic, infrastructure, underwater landscape, and marine life in the region.
By reducing ship speed, we can not only decrease noise emissions but also lower fuel consumption and decrease harmful emissions. This simple action can have a significant impact on protecting marine life, including whales and dolphins, that rely on sound to navigate, find prey, communicate, and reproduce.
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Implement quieter propellers
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has acknowledged the harmful impact of underwater noise on marine life and the ineffectiveness of previous guidelines. To address this issue, advancements have been made in propeller technology to reduce noise levels.
Propeller cavitation, the formation and rapid collapse of bubbles due to propeller rotation, is the primary source of underwater sound produced by ships. This phenomenon can result in a substantial amount of underwater radiated noise, reaching up to 180 decibels, which can be heard by marine life over extensive distances. It can also lead to inefficiencies in fuel consumption and potential damage to the propellers themselves.
To mitigate propeller cavitation, researchers from Strathclyde University and Oscar Propulsion have developed a technology called PressurePores. This innovation involves strategically drilling a small number of holes in the propeller blades. Initial tests showed a notable noise reduction of approximately 14 decibels. Further computational fluid dynamics modelling and specific hole placement optimization led to an even more impressive result, with a potential noise reduction of up to 21 decibels.
The PressurePores system can be easily incorporated into new propellers or retrofitted into existing ones. It is particularly well-suited for naval vessels, fishing fleets, offshore vessels, and cruise ships operating in environmentally sensitive areas. This technology not only reduces underwater noise pollution but also improves propeller efficiency by eliminating the need for curved blades to minimize cavitation.
By implementing quieter propellers through the adoption of PressurePores technology, we can significantly reduce the harmful effects of underwater noise pollution on marine life and ecosystems. This innovative solution is a promising step towards creating a more harmonious relationship between human activities and the delicate balance of the underwater world.
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Reroute vessels away from sensitive ecosystems
Marine noise can be mitigated by strategically managing water traffic. For instance, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in British Columbia has developed a voluntary program that asks ships and tugboats to reroute away from the feeding areas of endangered southern resident killer whales. The program also recommends slower speeds for large ships in specific waters in southwestern British Columbia to reduce underwater noise.
Rerouting vessels away from critical habitats can be combined with technological modifications and slowdowns to further reduce the areas and number of animals affected by underwater radiated noise. Regions will need to tailor their solutions to their own shipping traffic, infrastructure, underwater landscape, and local marine life.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established guidelines encouraging the adoption of quieter ship designs to minimize underwater noise pollution. These measures include modifications to hull designs and the use of quieter propellers, which can significantly reduce the noise levels generated by vessels. Technologies such as bubble curtains—barriers of bubbles created by compressors—are effectively used during offshore construction to absorb and scatter sound waves, significantly lowering underwater noise transmission.
In addition to rerouting vessels, reducing the speed of the global shipping fleet by 10-20% can cause a reduction of noise emissions by 40 to 67%, respectively. Slowing down vessels requires no modification to ships and is scalable from local speed reductions in sensitive areas to ocean basins.
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Regulate ocean noise
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been working to address the harmful impacts of underwater noise. In 2014, they outlined voluntary guidelines for engineers and manufacturers to build quieter ships. However, these guidelines were largely ineffective due to their non-mandatory nature, and shipping sector companies did not prioritize their uptake. As a result, ocean noise levels continued to increase, affecting marine life and ecosystems.
To effectively regulate ocean noise, several measures can be implemented:
Implement Mandatory Measures
IMO's guidelines should be made mandatory for the shipping industry to ensure industry-wide action. This includes addressing the issue of cavitation, a propeller design issue that contributes to noise, fuel inefficiency, and lost energy. By retrofitting vessels' hulls and installing more efficient propellers, shipping companies can significantly reduce underwater noise levels, as demonstrated by Danish shipping company Maersk.
Encourage Technological Innovations
Technological advancements, such as quieter propellers and air injection technology, can be utilized to reduce noise emissions. Hanwha Ocean's Masker-Air System, for example, creates an air curtain around a ship's hull to prevent or reduce the escape of noise generated inside. These technologies should be applied to existing and new ships to minimize noise pollution.
Manage Ship Traffic Strategically
Underwater noise can be mitigated by strategically managing ship traffic. This includes rerouting vessels away from sensitive marine ecosystems and the feeding areas of endangered species, such as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's voluntary program. Additionally, reducing the speed of ships can significantly lower noise emissions, with a 10-20% reduction in speed resulting in a 40-67% decrease in noise.
Engage with Indigenous Communities
The IMO's workplan includes engaging with Indigenous communities, such as the Inuit of the Arctic, and incorporating their knowledge into the process of reducing underwater noise. This recognition of Indigenous knowledge and participation is essential for effective regulation.
Advocate for Policy Changes
Advocacy groups, such as Ocean Conservancy and OceanCare, play a crucial role in pushing for policy changes to address underwater noise pollution. Their efforts have led to the IMO's acknowledgment of the shortcomings of previous guidelines and the development of a comprehensive work plan. Collaboration between advocacy groups, governments, and industries is vital to implementing effective policies and regulations.
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Reduce underwater construction
Marine animals, including whales and dolphins, depend on sound to navigate the ocean, find prey, hide from predators, and communicate with each other. Noise from ships and other sources, such as seismic surveys, can negatively impact these marine animals by making it harder for them to hear. This disruption can alter their feeding, resting, and breeding behaviors and can lead to hearing loss, physical injury, and chronic stress.
To reduce underwater construction noise pollution, it is essential to implement a combination of measures, including improved ship design, maintenance, and policy solutions. Here are some strategies to reduce underwater construction noise:
- Ship Design Innovations: Advancements in quieter propellers and hull designs can significantly reduce underwater noise. For example, addressing propeller cavitation by retrofitting vessels' hulls and installing more efficient propellers can decrease fuel inefficiency and noise levels.
- Ship Maintenance: Regular maintenance of vessels to maintain polished, clean hulls and propellers, as well as engine insulation, can contribute to noise reduction.
- Speed Reduction: Slowing down vessels is a simple yet effective strategy. Reducing the speed of the global shipping fleet by 10-20% can lead to a substantial reduction in noise emissions, ranging from 40% to 67%. This approach also offers the additional benefit of decreasing fuel consumption and lowering harmful emissions.
- Rerouting Vessels: Strategically managing water traffic by rerouting vessels away from sensitive marine ecosystems and feeding areas of endangered species can help lessen the impact of construction noise on marine life.
- Quieting Technologies: The development and application of quieting technologies, such as air injection technology, show promising results in reducing underwater noise. For instance, the Masker-Air System creates an air curtain around a ship's hull to prevent or reduce the escape of internal noise.
- Policy Measures: Policymakers play a crucial role in addressing underwater noise pollution. High-level commitments and the implementation of noise reduction measures, such as incentives and regulations, are necessary to drive change in the shipping industry and other noise-generating sectors like offshore wind farm construction and seismic surveying.
By adopting these comprehensive approaches, it is possible to effectively reduce underwater construction noise pollution, protect marine ecosystems, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the world's aquatic environments.
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