Modelling of ships as a source of underwater noise

Jukka-Pekka Jalkanen,Heikki Peltonen,Jukka Pajala,Martin Östberg,Mathias Andersson,Mattias Liefvendahl,Lasse Johansson,Ilkka Karasalo,Rickard Bensow,Peter Sigray

doi:10.5194/os-14-1373-2018

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, a methodology is presented for modelling underwater noise emissions from ships based on realistic vessel activity in the Baltic Sea region. This paper combines the Wittekind noise source model with the Ship Traffic Emission Assessment Model (STEAM) in order to produce regular updates for underwater noise from ships. This approach allows the construction of noise source maps, but requires parameters which are not commonly available from commercial ship technical databases. For this reason, alternative methods were necessary to fill in the required information. Most of the parameters needed contain information that is available during the STEAM model runs, but features describing propeller cavitation are not easily recovered for the world fleet. Baltic Sea ship activity data were used to generate noise source maps for commercial shipping. Container ships were recognized as the most significant source of underwater noise, and the significant potential for an increase in their contribution to future noise emissions was identified.

Highlights

It is recognized that anthropogenic noise might have adverse effects on the marine environment
The issue of underwater noise has been recognized by the European Commission (EC), which included sound as “Descriptor 11” in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and made it analogous to pollution (European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2008)
The levels of underwater sound have been increasing since the advent of steam-driven ships (Hildebrand, 2004, 2009); shipping is only one source of underwater noise and both natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to noise levels

Summary

Introduction

It is recognized that anthropogenic noise might have adverse effects on the marine environment. The issue of underwater noise has been recognized by the European Commission (EC), which included sound as “Descriptor 11” in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and made it analogous to pollution (European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2008). Global maps of shipping activity help to understand that the omnipresence of waterborne traffic means that ships will contribute to the noise levels of all marine areas. The levels of underwater sound have been increasing since the advent of steam-driven ships (Hildebrand, 2004, 2009); shipping is only one source of underwater noise and both natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to noise levels

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Conclusion