# Quiet Vessel Initiative: Technology, design, and operational measures for quieter Canadian waters In the dark undersea world, sound is essential. For marine life, sounds often play a crucial role in communication, foraging, reproduction, and navigation. However, as human activity in the oceans increases, so does underwater noise. Various industries contribute to ocean noise—offshore energy, construction, military operations, and of course vessel traffic. The noise generated by vessels is referred to as underwater radiated noise. With growing activity from commercial shipping, offshore developments, fishing and recreational vessels, underwater radiated noise pollution is increasing. This increase has serious consequences for marine life, particularly species that rely on sound to survive, such as marine mammals. Underwater radiated noise can mask natural sounds, which may make it difficult for individuals to communicate, find a mate or prey, or even avoid predators. Some may change their behaviours, such as communicating less or avoiding or abandoning important habitats. Underwater radiated noise may also increase stress and cause other health problems. Learn more about how underwater noise impacts marine mammals Underwater radiated noise is gaining attention. On the international stage, the International Maritime Organization updated its non-mandatory guidelines on reducing underwater radiated noise in 2023. In Canada, the federal government is developing an Ocean Noise Strategy to enhance the science, knowledge gathering, innovation, assessment, and guide management of underwater radiated noise while raising awareness of the issue. The Quiet Vessel Initiative is a federally funded program through Transport Canada. Industry partners and researchers interested in potential research and development collaborations to advance innovative solutions in marine technology are invited to contact the Quiet Vessel Initiative team at Marine-RDD-maritime@tc.gc.ca. Find out more about recent research and development results in Canada Technology for detecting and analysing underwater vessel noise Canada’s efforts to mitigate underwater radiated noise Detecting and measuring underwater radiated noise The problem of depth Measuring sound: Onboard approaches Simulations to spot a problem before it occurs Quieter ship design: new-build and retrofit options New-build and retrofit options Quietening propellers Alternative propulsion systems Tackling engine and other machinery noise Picking a solution Operational changes to limit underwater vessel noise Operational Changes are Quietening the Seas for Marine Life Leveraging Real-Time Sensors and AI to Tailor Underwater Noise Reduction Balancing Speed, Safety, and Sea Lanes to Protect Marine Ecosystems Navigating the Technical and Biological Hurdles of the Future’s Quieter Oceans Navigating the Noise: The Intersection of Canadian Ferry Routes and Critical Marine Habitats Ferry Noise in Critical Marine Mammal Habitat The Engineering Challenge of Building Efficient and Silent Ferries Pacific Quiet: BC Ferries’ Journey to Protect West Coast Whale Habitats Atlantic Echoes: Rethinking Speed and Design to Shield Endangered Whales from Ferry Noise Projects referenced in the Quiet Vessel Initiative article series include the following, with the final report provided where available: Technology to Detect Noise A Novel URN Measurement Method Using a Waterproof Aerial Drone with Hydrophone “HyDrone” | BPE Technologies Continuous Logging of Underwater Noise Emissions (CLUE) | DNV / ABB Canada Characterizing Ferry Noise in Beluga Habitat | UQO Université du Québec en Outaouais Modelling, Calibration and Trials of Underwater Acoustic Ranges Towards Quieter Vessels | Dalhousie University: Intelligent Systems Laboratory Hydrodynamic Propeller Noise Monitoring System (HyPNoS) | Schottel Onboard Cavitation Monitoring | JASCO Applied Sciences Onboard Cavitation Monitoring | AllSalt Maritime Underwater Listening Station in Boundary Pass | JASCO Applied Sciences Shallow Water Vessel Source Level Measurements | JASCO Applied Sciences Changing Vessel Design Composite Propeller Design for Noise Reduction | Martec Limited, Applied Technology Group, Lloyd’s Register Innovative Physics-Based Machine Learning Framework for Near-Field Noise from Hull and Propeller (HARP) | University of British Columbia: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Propeller Optimization for Noise Reduction | Defence Research and Development Canada  Quantifying Underwater Noise Reductions from Battery-Electric Tug | Robert Allan Ltd. Quantifying URN Effects of Propeller Cages | Martec Limited, Applied Technology Group, Lloyd’s Register Ship Energy Efficiency and Underwater Radiated Noise | VARD Marine Test Platform for Controlled Evaluation of Noise and Vibration Mitigation Measures | Innovation Maritime Changing Vessel Operations Active Underwater Noise Cancellation | Rising Tide Bioacoustics Adaptive Physics-Based Machine Learning Framework for Anthropogenic Noise and Ocean Soundscape (MELO Project) | University of British Columbia: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Marine Mammal Research Unit CFD Tools for Prediction of Cavitation-Induced URN | University of Victoria: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Hydrodynamic Propeller Noise Monitoring System (HyPNoS) | Schottel Mitigation of Radiated Noise of Small Marine Craft Using Condition-Based Monitoring | Martec Limited, Applied Technology Group, Lloyd’s Register Modelling of Operational Measures to Reduce Underwater Vessel Noise | JASCO Applied Sciences Development of Noise Reduction Measures for Conventionally Propelled Whale Watching Vessels | JASCO ShipConsult Validation of Underwater Radiated Noise Modelling via Specific Ship Measurement | ABS