A buoy to measure noise in the sea
In the framework of the Life-PIAQUO project, in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard - Direzione Marittima Genova and with the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, a buoy for monitoring underwater noise radiated by passing ships has been installed offshore the eastern entrance to the Port of Genoa at coordinates 44.365623° N, 8.941947° E (WGS84). The aim of the measurements is to baseline the noise from a large number of commercial ships.
The activity is related to the recent needs identified in the Revised Guidelines For The Reduction Of Underwater Radiated Noise From Shipping To Address Adverse Impacts On Marine Life (IMO MEPC.1/Circ.906), in particular to the importance to gather knowledge on the subject by an experience building phase. The presence of the buoy will allow shipowners to gather important information on the current performances of their ships, which is a first very important step in order to set baselines.
The whole activity will be carried out in strong cooperation between different parties, involving the LIFE-PIAQUO Partners (among others: Quiet Oceans, Bureau Veritas M&O, Università di Genova), the Italian Coast Guard – Genoa Harbour Master Office, and the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, Shipowners, with the common aim of progressing in the knowledge in this field. As at the moment no mandatory rules/requirements/prescriptions are in force about this type of emission, such voluntary initiatives testify the attention towards environmental issues and the willingness by all parties to cooperate in order to increase knowledge and to develop together future actions on strong commonly agreed bases.
PIAQUO is giving shipowners the unique opportunity to get their very first URN basic baseline.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
