Ship quieting technology

Information about technologies that have been proven to reduce underwater noise in ships and boats. The emphasis here should be on practical solutions that make economic sense to boat owners.

Thanks to Brandon Southall of NOAA for coordinating the conferences on this subject and for distilling much of these data and resources! As I wrote to him, "It would be *great* if there were some case studies that include cost/benefit analysis of particular quieting technologies (including practical manufacturer-model-number-type specifics)." Let's try to focus on such information here.

General references and resources

• IMO request (June, 2008) Request to add ocean noise mitigation to IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee.
• Report from Hamburg Workshop (April 21-24, 2008) "International Workshop on Shipping Noise and Marine Mammals"
• International Symposia on "Potential Application of Vessel-Quieting Technology on Large Commercial Vessels"
  • May 1-2, 2007 (MD) web site | talks
  • October 19-21, 2005 (TX) 2005 Outreach Event Large Vessel Acoustics Outreach/Information Exchange
  • May 18-19, 2004 (VA) web site | report

Ships (large vessels)

Cost/benefit ideas for commercial ships (Wittekind, 2007, from 2007 Symposium site)

Boats (small vessels, <65')

• Whale watch noise in Haro Strait (2006) by Hildebrand, et al.
• Sounds from whale watching vessels (fall, 2007) "Investigating high frequency underwater boat noise and potential masking of killer whale echolocation clicks" by Tim Hunt
• Ducted propeller systems are being tested and patented by Marine Propulsion Technologies in CA (no noise reduction results as of 10/2008)