

  1. An universal applicable measurement protocol for the quantifcation of noise performance
  2. Guidelines for noise labelling of a vessel, based on its noise performance
  3. Best practice guide on reduction measures, including ‘noise awareness’ methods to be employed

Measurement Protocol



A uniform, worldwide applicable measurement protocol is developed to carry out noise measurements on individual ships at berth. The aim of this protocol is to describe how to correctly measure ships in a uniform way. Based on the NEPTUNES protocol, it is possible to exchange and compare noise data from ships and to even label a ship based on its noise performance (see deliverable guidelines for noise labelling).

The protocol is based on the experiences and knowledge of multiple noise experts and consultants. To guarentee an adequate and objective quality of the results, the measurement protocol is verified by performing measurements in the participating ports. In this way we guarentee a protocol that can be used uniformly and compared and changed into a noise profile for the ship.


Based on the protocol, the measurements shall be per¬formed on individual noise sources on board of the ships, and supplementary acoustic measurements at a certain distance from the respective vessels. The sound pressure measurements on board of the ship will be performed to identify the most dominant noise sources on a ship. Furthermore, the measurement results will give an overview of the sound power levels of the individual noise sources on board of the ship. Sound pressure level measurements at a certain distance from the ship will be per¬formed to obtain an overview of the overall noise emission of the ship. Moreover, the measurements at a distance should indicate if there is an explicit presence of low frequency noise and the measurements can be used to verify the sound emission measurements on board of the ship.




Noise Label and Classification


To obtain the typical noise performance of individual ships, the outcomes of the Measurement Protocol can be changed into a noise profile. In order to recieve your noise profile, or also called noise label, to see how the ship preforms compaired to other ships in our data base. Please contact and send us your  NEPTUNES Measurement Protocol in order to recieve the Noise Label. After receiving your measurement data he can give you insights on how the ship is preforming compared to other ships and their noise profiles.

Furthermore, we developed a formula for the ESI in order to adapt noise into the ESI pointsystem as well. In December 2018 it was decided during an ESI meeting to incorporate a separate noise module, based on the Neptunes systematics.  This separate ESI module is expected in the second half of 2019. This means that whenever the ESI is redeveloped you could also earn points for your noise preformance based on the 1) total broadband airborne noise emission, 2) total low-frequency airborne noise emission and 3) availability of a comprehensive measurement report.



Best Practice Guide


In order to exchange knowledge about measures to reduce the noise hindrance of ships, a Best Practice Guide is developed. This Guide includes not only the Best Practices, but also some background knowledge on noise sources, bottlenecks and other deliverables of NEPTUNES. The Best Practices are elaborated on how to implement the measure, what kind of noise reduction is expected, what the lessons were when using it etc.

If you are interested to read about the Best Practices in order to see if it could be a suitable measure for you, please download our Best practice guide here.