SNAME report offers guidelines to reduce impact of boat noise on marine animals

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) has published a new technical report that provides recommendations on reducing the impact of vessel generated, incidental underwater radiated noise on marine animals.

Marine Vessel Environmental Performance (MVEP) Assessment Guide, General Measures: Ocean Health and Aquatic Life – Underwater Noise applies to all surface vessels operating worldwide at any speed or operating condition, with major focus on vessels using screw type propellers operating below the supercavitating regime. It provides recommendations for reducing noise during the design of new vessels as well as when reviewing possibilities for existing vessels already in operation. Sources of vessel generated noise include: propulsion systems, mechanical systems, generation of electricity, and hydrodynamic effects. It also provides a hierarchy of the machinery types that generate the most noise. For most vessels, the propeller will be the dominant noise source.

Marine Vessel Environmental Performance (MVEP) Assessment Guide, General Measures: Ocean Health and Aquatic Life – Underwater Noise was written by Michael Bahtiarian, reviewed by the SNAME Technical & Research Panel EC-10 and approved by the Society’s Environmental Engineering Committee.

Identified as Technical and Research Bulletin 6-2 MVEP GM-1, the 24 page report has been published electronically and can be ordered on the SNAME web site, www.sname.org, (US $40, $20 for SNAME members) or by contacting Kristin Walker, kwalker[at]sname.org or 1+703.997.6710.

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