A cross-disciplinary partnership of several of us working to advance the implementation of vessel-quieting technologies on large commercial ships recently gave an update presentation on progress within the International Maritime Organization at the IMCC2 meeting in Victoria, BC <see: http://www.conbio.org/IMCC2011/>. The title of the presentation and abstract is given below, as well as the authorship (but note that Michael Jasny actually gave this talk on our behalf).
18:15 Ongoing efforts to reduce underwater noise from large commercial ships. Brandon Southall , SEA, Inc. and University of California, Santa Cruz; Kathy Metcalf Chamber of Shipping of America; Leila Hatch National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Amy Scholik-Schlomer National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Michael Jasny *Natural Resources Defense Council; Lindy Weilgart Okeanos and Dalhousie University; Andrew Wright NERI, Aarhus University; Trisha Bergmann , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
Abstract: There has long been recognition among scientists that vessel noise may restrict sound communication in marine animals, particularly large whales, but broad recognition of this within the shipping industry has been lacking, as have efforts to quiet vessels. However, thanks to international cooperation, there has been substantial recent progress on this issue. Some industry representatives that were previously unaware of the potential environmental impacts associated with underwater noise from large ships have been receptive to considering quieting technologies, largely because incidental noise serves no purpose and is actually wasted energy with regard to transportation. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hosted two symposia on this issue in 2004 & 2007; follow-on efforts have included a 2008 workshop hosted by a private scientific foundation, Okeanos-Foundation for the Sea, partnerships with environmental groups (notably Natural Resources Defense Council), industry partners (notably the Chamber of Shipping of America), and private and academic scientists. This issue is now progressing within the international arena via the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization, and with recognition by the International Whaling Commission and ACCOBAMS. This talk will consider underlying environmental issues, with particular attention to industrial noise in the changing Arctic, and discuss the collaborations and status of current international efforts.
The presentation received a good amount of attention, including some media coverage on a local radio show the podcast of which you can find at <http://kuow.org/program.php?id=23495>
We continue to make progress on this issue, and are currently in the process of moving the discussion at the IMO into the design and engineering stages for recommending specific quieting measures in the construction of new vessels. Stay tuned for more on this...