(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Commercial shipping is one of the main contributors to underwater radiated noise (URN) which has adverse effects on critical life functions for a wide range of marine life, including marine mammals, fish and invertebrate species, upon which many coastal Indigenous communities depend for their food, livelihoods and cultures.
The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its eighty-second session, has approved the amendments pertaining to the Revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise (URN) from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life.
Effective URN mitigation requires international collaboration among various stakeholders such as seafarers, shipbuilders, operators, maritime authorities, and Member States, which play a key role in setting noise reduction targets and mechanisms.
For both new and existing ships, URN reduction measures depend on the ship's design, operational parameters, and cost-effectiveness. A comprehensive URN reduction strategy involves incorporating noise mitigation during the design stage, establishing baseline URN measurements, setting reduction targets, and implementing and assessing technical and operational measures. Additionally, these efforts should balance other objectives, including energy efficiency, biofouling control, and ship safety.
Guidance
Revised Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Radiated Noise from Shipping to Address Adverse Impacts on Marine Life, IMO MEPC.1/Circ.906/Rev.1, addresses URN management and planning. It also provides details about the relationship between the Energy Efficiency Compliance Measures and URN. Many of the energy efficiency improvement options to meet energy efficiency regulations (EEDI, EEXI and CII) may result in an improvement in URN performance. There is also information provided on URN reduction approach based on design, technical, operational and maintenance aspects.
All Shipowners, Shipmanagers and other stakeholders are encouraged to adopt URN reduction management planning as a tool for ship operation, design, construction, and modification. They are also urged to share experiences and information gathered from ship and equipment designers, shipbuilders, operators, and other relevant parties.
You can download here below the IMO circular MEPC.1/Circ.906/Rev.1 (Revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life):
Source: IMO
