Specially designed reactive ship silencers have been installed on 6 Rio Class Maersk ships to reduce unwanted noise at Port Otago. Installation of the silencers was a complex operation, taking place while the vessels were still at sea.
Marshall Day Acoustics consultant Craig Fitzgerald was a regular on-site to monitor the noise, which he said came in the shape of disproportionately high levels of low-frequency rumbling."Traditional absorption silencers provide good mid and high-frequency mitigation but have very little impact on low-frequency noise" stated Craig.
Image credit: Brian Corson
The new devices have been attached to the auxiliary engines to reduce the low 'rumble' when in port and help to improve the quality of life in the local community. You can hear/experience the difference it has made below.
Check out the full article in the Otago Daily Times here.