Classification society Lloyd’s Register has released a new noise notation to meet the increasing demand for noise control from ships in port.

LR describes the new notation as defining a set of limit levels for airborne noise emissions, enabling ports to better monitor overall noise levels from ship calls. The notation will assist ports in determining which and how many ships can access noise sensitive areas, such as ports in city centers, near residential areas, or natural sanctuaries.

“LR is the first class society to have a notation on this subject,” said Per Trøjgård Andersen, LR Principal Consultant – Noise & Vibration. “It will assist ports and shipowners in controlling and verifying airborne noise emissions, a field in which LR is at the forefront of technical development. Several industry partners have helped with the development of the notation, including yard representatives and port operators, and LR would like to thank them all for their valuable contributions and support.”

Airborne noise levels present similar challenges for inland waterways. Directive (EU) 2016/1629 specifies the maximum noise level from a ship in inland waters in the EU when sailing and at berth. LR says that achieving the ABN notation will ensure that the ship complies with these requirements as well.

The new notation defines five limit levels for the airborne noise emission from super quiet to standard. The notation also describes how the compliance can be ensured at design stage by giving examples of how to calculate the expected noise levels.