TURNING THE VOLUME DOWN: The benefits of underwater noise reduction

IAPH Webinar

The session will bring together the perspectives of environmental NGOs, port professionals and ship owners/operators to reveal the latest strategies and technologies for mitigating URN and its effects. An expert panel will unpack ongoing regulatory discussions of URN at the IMO and explore the recently launched URN module within IAPH’s Environmental Ship Index (ESI), which can be used by ports and ships to 'turn down the volume’ on this critical shipping output.

Underwater radiated noise (URN) generated by commercial shipping can have short-term and long-term negative effects on marine life, especially marine mammals – a fact that has been recognised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is of increasing concern beyond the maritime industry. Yet, there is still little understanding of how responsible operational practices and initiatives, by vessels and ports, can reduce the serious impact of URN.

MODERATOR:

Antonis Michail: Technical Director, World Ports Sustainability Program, IAPH
Dr Antonis Michail is an engineer specialized on environmental and sustainability management of ports, with over 20 years of respective professional experience. In 2018, Antonis joined the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) as Technical Director and Coordinator of its World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP). Antonis oversees the technical work of IAPH, particularly on Climate and Energy, and supervises all initiatives under the WPSP umbrella. and coordinating the network’s activities and development until 2017.

PRESENTERS: 

Cheryl Ng:  ECHO Program Specialist – Collaborative Initiatives at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Cheryl supports the delivery of the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program to reduce the impacts of commercial shipping on at‑risk whales through collaborative, voluntary measures. Working closely with industry, government, Indigenous communities, scientists, and environmental organizations, she helps advance practical, evidence‑based solutions for healthier oceans while enabling responsible trade. With a background in sustainability and stakeholder engagement, she is passionate about building partnerships that drive meaningful environmental outcomes.

Rachel Aronson: Program Director for Quiet Sound
In this role, she leads voluntary, multi-stakeholder efforts to reduce the acoustic and physical impacts of large commercial vessels on the last 76 endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales in Washington state. This program advances voluntary operational measures, whale detection systems, and vessel quieting for the benefit of the whales with no impact on maritime safety and trade. With a robust background in natural resources facilitation, Rachel specializes in connecting stakeholders to develop effective, durable environmental policies. She holds a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, as well as a B.A. in Biology and Hispanic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Eduardo Ramos: Senior Data Analyst at OceanScore
Specializing in maritime emissions and regulatory frameworks such as EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime. With a background as a Navigational Watch Officer and hands-on experience at sea, he brings a unique operational perspective to data analytics, effectively bridging the gap between complex data and real-world maritime challenges.