Page 18: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2025)

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N C E , LLCOISE ONTROL NGINEERING

Billerica, Massachusetts www.noise-control.com

President/CEO: Jesse Spence # of employees: 16

Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE) is a specialized working group of the Society of Naval Architects and Ma- acoustical engineering consultancy headquartered in Bil- rine Engineers (SNAME), which is developing guidance for lerica, Massachusetts. The ? rm specializes in noise and vi- designing quieter ships.

bration design, control, and measurement for marine, indus- NCE has also developed multiple tools for the measure- trial, and commercial applications. ment of underwater noise from ships and other anthropo-

NCE serves as a prime contractor for the US Navy and genic sources. One such tool is NCE’s Buoy Acoustic Mea- a wide range of commercial entities, and has contributed surement System (BAMS). BAMS is a ? oating buoy that technical expertise to hundreds of vessels worldwide. The enables NCE engineers to perform underwater measure- ? rm is known for its work in designing and evaluating quiet ments to ANSI, ISO, and regulatory body standards, and vessels across a wide range of types, including research ves- characterize the acoustic output of vessels, airguns, pile sels, high-speed craft, tugboats, offshore support vessels, driving, and all other human activities at close and long military ships, dredges, icebreakers, submersibles, offshore ranges. NCE’s engineers employs the capabilities of BAMS structures, and both conventional and unconventional ma- to diagnose noise problems, including identi? cations of root rine platforms. causes of excesses to noise criteria, degraded sonar perfor-

NCE’s client base includes naval architects, shipyards, mance, and other operational or compliance concerns. government agencies, equipment manufacturers, private Noise Control Engineering (NCE) supported a U.S. Mari- vessel owners, and commercial operators. time Administration META study to assess the potential for

Beyond their technical expertise, NCE plays a role in shap- battery-electric propulsion to reduce underwater radiated ing marine industry standards for underwater noise reduc- noise (URN). URN was measured from three tugboats in tion. In early 2024, NCE joined the US Delegation to the San Diego: two diesel-geared and one battery-electric. The

IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction, electric tug showed a 5–6 dB URN reduction during tran- supporting the IMO’s action plan to further prevent and re- sit and assist modes. Further analysis revealed that noise duce URN from ships. reductions during transit were due to the absence of struc-

NCE is actively engaged in US Maritime Administra- ture-borne noise from engine mounts. During assist, differ- tion studies contributing to the IMO’s experience-building ences in propeller design—not propulsion type—accounted phase—an effort that invites Member States and organiza- for URN variation. The study underscores the importance tions to share insights and best practices for implementing of early-stage acoustic analysis to identify dominant noise the Revised Guidelines. Additionally, NCE leads the EC-14 sources and apply targeted mitigation strategies.

18 September/October 2025

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