Noise and vibrations in and from ships: issues, consequences and possible solutions

Shipping has experienced a deep transformation throughout the decades, especially in light of decarbonization challenges and automation as well as heightened consciousness about its environmental impact. Of all the negative external effects of shipping, noise and vibration (both under waterborne and airborne) have been some of the most common yet challenging issues. Their impacts spread well beyond the vessel itself to include the health of crew and passengers, the amenity of port communities, and, most importantly of all, to the behavior and survival prospects of marine fauna. Recent years have seen a rapid increase in scientific attention to ship-induced acoustics. The study included physical modeling, numerical simulations, experimental measurements and cross-disciplinary impact assessment of naval architecture, oceanography, bioacoustics and environmental policy. In this framework, the Special Issue “Noise and vibrations in and from ships: issues, consequences and possible solutions”, published on Ocean Engineering, gathered 31 contributions that globally traced the state of knowledge and shed light upon ways toward a sustainable acoustic design. The focus for this Special Issue was broad and deliberately not exclusive. It covered 4 main areas of research.