BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have developed a guide which aims to help the shipping industry understand and reduce underwater radiated noise from ships and help the industry implement the underwater noise guidelines from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
To support action from the shipping industry, BIMCO and ICS encourage all shipowners and operators to recognise the importance of reducing underwater noise and to take the necessary steps to successfully implement the IMO guidelines. To facilitate this, the practical “Underwater Radiated Noise Guide” from BIMCO and ICS explores the sources of underwater noise and its far-reaching impact on marine life.
It also explains the content of the IMO guidelines and how to set up a noise management plan and looks at the scope of regional regulations and voluntary measures.
Reducing underwater radiated noise from ships is not merely a matter of environmental stewardship; it is of critical importance to ensure ocean health
… said Michelle Sanders, Alternate Permanent Representative of Canada to the International Maritime Organization.
To remind, the 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 3-7 July 2023, approved revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life. The updated guidelines:
- Include updated technical knowledge, including reference to international measurement standards, recommendations and classification society rules.
- Provide sample templates to assist shipowners with the development of an underwater radiated noise management plan.
- Provide an overview of approaches applicable to designers, shipbuilders and ship operators to reduce the underwater radiated noise of any given ship.
- They are intended to assist relevant stakeholders in establishing mechanisms and programmes through which noise reduction efforts can be realized.
Furthermore, MEPC 82 (30 September to 4 October, 2024, ) agreed to continue work on reducing URN from ships by introducing an experience-building phase (EBP) and extended the target completion year to 2026. MEPC.1/Circ.906, “Revised Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Radiated Noise from Shipping to Address Adverse Impact on Marine Life,” was amended to include a URN management planning reference chart.
Shipowners are encouraged by the Organizations to give careful consideration to this guidance when deciding their strategies for ensuring compliance with the IMO greenhouse gas regulations. In this way, substantial underwater radiated noise reduction can be achieved with little additional effort.
Energy efficient ships are quiet ships. As our industry cuts greenhouse gas emissions through the uptake of energy efficiency measures, the level of underwater radiated noise will also reduce and help protect marine life and the environment,
… commented David Loosley, BIMCO Secretary General & CEO.
Meanwhile, Guy Platten, the Secretary General of ICS, stated that reducing underwater radiated noise too often has negative side effects. In this case, he noted that it can also lead to reduced emissions and running costs. He emphasized that implementing the IMO guidelines presents an opportunity for shipowners and the shipping industry to show their commitment to environmental sustainability while lowering operational expenses. He added that the BIMCO/ICS guide will assist shipowners in navigating this process, achieving sustainability goals, and reducing running costs.
Additionally, a Tripartite Working Group has been formed by representatives of shipowners and managers, IACS classification societies and European and Far East shipyards, to encourage the reduction of underwater radiated noise levels through voluntary measures.
ICS and BIMCO kindly request participation in the Tripartite Working Group’s survey to assess the existing levels of uptake of the IMO guidelines. This survey can be found at: https://shorturl.at/0jB1t
The first edition of the “Underwater Radiated Noise Guide” is available to pre-order from ICS Publications, and can be found here.
