ICS, alongside other trade associations, IACS class Societies, and representatives of European and Far East shipyards, recently formed a Tripartite Working Group on Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). The objective of this group is to encourage URN reduction through voluntary measures and leverage. There is a strong synergy between energy efficiency and noise reduction to readily achieve this co-benefit. Attached are two papers which explain the relationship:-

i) A paper submitted to SDC10/5/1 by the ICS, BIMCO, INTERTANKO and IPTA on “The synergies between energy efficiency and underwater radiated noise (URN) and proposed actions” with hyperlink to a report from Southampton University to assess the interrelationship between measures aimed at enhancing ship energy efficiency and mitigating URN emissions.

ii) A report form VARD on Ship Energy Efficiency and Underwater Radiated Noise

The working group would like to assess the existing level of uptake of the IMO Guidelines for the reduction of URN and of the quiet-ship class notations and requests your support to complete a brief questionnaire, which may be accessed at :-

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=07dBJ38BC0ulZ7n3Aqucq-iSKOcZZldLnDQragWtcs9UQjM1UkpNSkFaMEU2OThSNVUyTlNFUDlUVi4u

The working groups next meeting is on 3rd April 2024, and if possible, responses received prior to the meeting would be most helpful. Nevertheless, the survey form will remain open through 2024, and even late responses will be very welcome.

Any questions on the questionnaire should be addressed to :- Chris Waddington Technical Director. At chris.waddington@ics-shipping.org

SDC 10-5-1 – The synergies between energy efficiency and underwater radiated noise (URN)and proposed ac… (ICS, BIMCO, INTERTANKO an…)

Vard Report – Underwater Noise Abatment mesasures