The project is supported by relevant methods and tools which will be used to assess the effectiveness of noise mitigation measures in order to select the most appropriate:

• A noise footprint assessment tool will be derived from Quonops, an existing operational underwater noise prediction system, connectable with AIS shipping data. The tool will be adapted to the problem considered and validated by comparison with in-situ measurements at sea
• Dedicated bio-acoustic studies will be conducted on different marine species representative of European maritime areas, with the goal of deriving criteria regarding acceptable limits for underwater noise caused by shipping
• Computer methods will be developed and scale model experiments will be done to predict the radiated noise from ship propellers, including cavitation effects and interactions with ship hulls. These predictive techniques will be validated in comparison with measurements

To support the analysis, several vessels, including commercial ships, will be tested at sea. Indeed, the project will benefit from the strong expertise of the consortium in the field of ship noise and vibrations, relying on the long term experience of many ships and a dedicated database. A proposal for a European standard for ship Underwater Radiated Noise measurement will also be produced