European policy for port noise control and mitigation

Abstract

Port noise affects the development of harbour cities on EU shores. Tourism, goods transportation and passenger traffic are increasingly limited by noise impact on port cities, which annoys residents and disturbs the sleep of the exposed population. Therefore, the EU has promoted coordinated actions and programmes aiming to control and reduce port noise in the Europena area. Port authorities, shipping companies, public orgnizations, shipyard owners, terminal operators, municipalities are developing an ambitious programme pursuing harbour noise control. Several projects have been funded to develop a recovery strategy and promote collaboration between port stake-holders. These projects cover different aspects of port noise in the framework of a coordinated policy over a specific area of the European shores. Each project addresses a specific goal, in accordance with an overall coordinated strategy: RUMBLE deals with large commercial ports, DECIBELwith small touristic harbours, LIST with noise from traf-fic generated by the ports, MONCUMEN with measurements and characterisation, REPORT with modelling and impact prediction, TRIPLO with reaction of the exposed population. The outcomes of these projects are expected to create a decisive turning point, both at territorial and technical level, with relevant benefits for the whole Europe.