Relationship between vessel speed and sounds levels in the Bering Strait

Abstract

Vessel speed limits have been proposed as a means of reducing underwater ship noise, however it is unclear how effective such a measure would be in the Bering Strait, a natural bottleneck for ships transiting into the Arctic from the Pacific Ocean. In this study, we examine how ship noise varies with vessel type and speed using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data collected from vessels traveling through the strait along with acoustic recordings from three moored hydrophones. We matched recordings with ship noise to individual vessels that passed within 100 km of each hydrophone in June through November 2013–2015. A total of 69 sound files were analyzed and matched with individual vessels, with tug (n = 21) and cargo ships (n = 18) as the most common vessel type observed in our dataset. Sound levels for each vessel were calculated and compared as a function of vessel type and speed. The results of our study could inform policymakers and managers on the effectiveness of vessel speed limits on reducing ship noise in a sensitive Arctic habitat.