Marine Underwater Noise Control Design: Achieving Noise Goals with Lower Risk and Cost

Many governments and universities have built ˜low-noise' vessels for the purpose of fish stock assessments and other oceanographic research. In addition to having stringent underwater radiated noise signatures these vessels also have enhanced comfort and reduced crew noise exposure. This leads to improved crew and scientist performance, resulting in a higher demand for vessel time. Ensuring these vessels meet their noise and vibration objectives requires significant engineering efforts. This starts at the preliminary design stage, and needs to continue through detailed design, construction, and beyond. Many vessels being designed and built today require the shipyard to ensure stated noise levels will be met and that regulatory certification will be obtained. This approach can put significant risk on the shipyard, especially when the required treatments, and their costs, are not known at the time of proposal submission. This added risk can translate into increased costs to the owner. This presentation proposes an alternative approach to marine noise control that shifts the risk away from the shipyard and allows the owner and naval architect to direct the shipyard on what noise control strategies to implement throughout the design and construction process.