In Situ Characterization and Noise Mapping of Ships Moored in the Port of Venice

Acoustical characterization and mapping of noise emitted from ships were carried out on behalf of Venice Port Authority in the frame of the European Project Eco.Port (Cod. 41). According to Directive 2002/49/EC (END), several noise sources (like roads, railways, aircraft, industrial sites, ports) have to be considered and mapped separately; so, in the first step, the acoustical characterization of ships is required. Annex IV of the Directive, in particular, establishes that strategic noise maps for agglomerations shall put a special emphasis on noise emitted by industrial activities, including ports. Four kinds of ships were investigated, using the combined Italian technical standards UNI 10855 and UNI 11143: (1) inland navigation ships (along wharves), (2) ferries (along wharves and when manoeuvring), (3) Cruises, small size (along wharves), (4) Cruises, large size (along wharves and when manoeuvring). The geometrical and acoustical model of the city of Venice was developed, using SoundPLAN 6.4 applications package, and the information needed to comply with Directive 2002/49/EC was gathered.