Wednesday November 13, 2024
Marine Link —
In the first study conducted into agitation dredging noise in harbors, Haven Dredging’s Tiamat Hydrodynamic dredger has been confirmed to be below the safe levels for marine mammals and fish.
Tiamat, launched last year, is a hydrodynamic dredging solution that the study by environmental hydraulics consultancy, HR Wallingford, was found to be significantly quieter than a small trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).
When being pulled by a small workboat, the noise level of Tiamat was around 170 decibels (dB), while a 3,500 cubic meter TSHD – was around 185dB.
The US-based, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests approximate sound pressure level (SPL) thresholds are 180dB for whales and 190dB for seals.