On May 20th and 21st, the third workshop in the Quieting URN series took place, focusing on “Setting and Attaining Quieting Objectives for Underwater Radiated Noise from Vessels”. The event brought together global stakeholders from governments, industries, NGO’s, and academia to explore data-informed and technologically advanced solutions for reducing vessel noise impacting marine life. Niels Kinneging has presented the DEMASK view on underwater noise in the context for European (EU) and North-East Atlantic policies (OSPAR).
First day of the workshop: Opening and Goal-setting sessions
The first day of the workshop opened with remarks from Doug Nowacek (Duke University) and keynote presentations by Leila Hatch (NOAA) and Brandon Southall (SEA). They highlighted the sharing of experiences and objectives to address Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) from vessels. The first session of the workshop focused on current initiatives supporting noise reduction targets, featuring insights from academic-, industry-, and port authority leaders. The second session explored practical pathways to achieving these goals, with contributions from experts at Transport Canada, Rijkswaterstaat, and the IMO, including the presentation of Niels Kinneging from Rijkswaterstaat. Both sessions were moderated by members of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Juliette Lee and Molly Reeve.
Second day of the workshop: Panel discussion
The second day began with opening remarks and a summary of the first day from Michael Jasny (NRDC), setting the stage for a high-level panel discussion on international collaboration. Panelists from Transport Canada, the IMO, EMSA, and the Chilean Navy shared perspectives on current challenges and opportunities for coordinated action across regions and sectors. Moderated by Regan Nelson (NRDC), the discussion emphasized the need for aligned strategies and sustained commitment to reducing vessel noise. The workshop concluded with closing reflections from Brandon Southall (SEA) and Doug Nowacek (Duke University).
Key themes and concepts
Overall, the workshop highlighted the need for integrated strategies that address URN alongside emissions, efficiency, and vessel strikes. Key themes included the complexity of impact thresholds, varied target-setting approaches, and the role of incentives. Effective management should combine clear targets, active URN reduction, qualitative evaluation of this reduction, and spatial-temporal spectral approaches to evaluate the risks and benefits of these various approaches.