Page 9: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2007)

www.seadiscovery.com Marine Technology Reporter 9

The development of a new commercial standard for "Underwater Noise

Measurement of Ships" will commence in early 2007. ANSI-Accredited Standards

Committee, S12 Committee on Noise recently voted unanimously to form a

Working Group (WG) for the develop- ment of an underwater noise measurement standard. For many years, the field of underwater noise from ships has been the exclusive specialty of the

U.S. Navy. However, non-navy ves- sels are looking to be just as quiet so that they can perform better science.

One such quiet ship is a new FRV currently being built by the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) in

Mississippi. The goal of this project is to develop an American National

Standard for the measurement of underwater noise levels of ships using commercial technology. One aim is that the standard would be applicable to any open ocean site in the world and not require traveling to a special acoustic test range.

However, the committee's scope of work will include neither regulatory actions nor the development of any underwater noise level limit. (Since 1995, recommendations for under- water noise levels for these types of research vessels have been available [ICES CRR209]).

Organizations procuring or oper- ating quiet ships, naval architects, and acoustical engineers are being invited to participate in developing this new standard. The Working

Group is being formed at this time.

Accredited Standards Committee

S12 is administered on behalf of the

American National Standards

Institute (ANSI) by the Acoustical

Society of America (ASA) as a pub- lic service. All directly and material- ly affected parties are encouraged to partic- ipate in the Working Group.

Organizational membership in S12 is also available to organizations and companies wishing to participate. Contact Susan

Blaeser for details at (631) 390-0215 [email protected]. Learn more by clicking the "Standards Info" button at: http://asa.aip.org news

Noise Measurement Tops Agenda

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