How can the impact of shipping on the marine environment be effectively reduced? This question is explored in a publication by Katharina Grunert and Carina Juretzek (Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Hamburg) and our colleagues Thierry Maquil and Dr Andreas Müller (Müller-BBM Industry Solutions, Branch office Hamburg) , entitled “Parametric study applying acoustic assessment criteria to underwater noise from port-to-port shipping and offshore wind farm service traffic”.
In the study various measures to reduce underwater noise are investigated, including speed reductions (slow steaming), route optimisation and technical measures to reduce noise emissions from ships. The study is based on scenarios for North Sea shipping and service traffic to offshore wind farms.
A parametric model is used to analyse sound emissions, the exposure of marine mammals and the spatial propagation of underwater sound. The aim of the study is to identify effective approaches to reducing underwater sound and, at the same time, to further develop assessment methods for future regulatory requirements.
This work was carried out as part of ongoing research and development projects, including the Interreg project DEMASK.
Find out more about our field of expertise underwater acoustics.