Underwater noise generated by merchants ships in coastal waters of the Gulf of Gdansk

Currently, there has been a growing interest in monitoring underwater sound as pollution on the environment. The aim of the study was to gather experience in the measurement of commercial vessels and information about the changes in frequency and sound level for typical commercial vessels during normal operation at the selected point of shipping line. The paper presents description and chosen results of measurements campaign of underwater noise generated by commercial vessels during normal operating conditions. Measurement campaign was carried out in several multi-day cycles in a designated place on the shipping line at a depth of 20 m. The underwater noise measurements were recorded with regard to the current parameters of the ship: draught at the bow and stern, speed and route transition (by AIS) and environmental conditions: sea bathymetry, wind, sea state, sound speed profiles with temperature, density and depth.