An Introduction of the International Maritime Policy Trend on Underwater Radiated Noise from Shipping

ABSTRACT In this paper, the discussion trend on Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) from Ships being discussed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting was shared. In some countries, such as Canada and United States, marine mammals such as whales are severely affected by URN from Ships and Offshore plant facilities. In relation to the regulation of URN, internationally agreed regulations such as greenhouse gas reduction from Ships have not been developed, but awareness of seriousness of the URN is gradually increasing. Accordingly, international policy trends and technology trends for URN from Shipping, which are being dealt with in the IMO meeting, were reviewed. The technology for the URN is divided into measurement and reduction, and the reduction of propeller cavitation is being dealt with as a major technical element. Currently, the actual regulation to reduce the URN from ships is the “restriction on the speed of a ship” implemented at the individual national level. In order to develop coherent international rules and regulations, methods for measuring URN and technologies for URN reduction should be continuously developed.