Towards Quieter Seas

This article focuses on various research efforts that are being undertaken to address underwater noise. One of the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s findings is that underwater sound has been doubling every 10 years. Most of this sound is man-made, from the ever expanding fleet of ships that ride our oceans. Researchers believe that intrusive sound is harming sea life. Many organizations around the US shipbuilding industry have seen the need to address underwater noise. Standards organizations such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the Acoustical Society of America have been working overtime to develop standards for the measurement of underwater noise from ships, oil and gas exploration, pile driving, and other sources. The ship classification societies are adding underwater noise to their library of regulations. In the United States, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers are planning to add their own regulations or guidelines in the near future.