Onboard ship noise: Acoustic comfort in cabins. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borelli, Davide; Gaggero, Tomaso; Rizzuto, Enrico; Schenone, Corrado
• Is Part Of: Applied acoustics. Volume 177(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Onboard ship noise -- Spectral analysis -- Acoustic comfort -- Passenger cabins -- Noise indexes; Acoustical engineering -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 620.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.107912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-682X

Abstract

Highlights: Noise inside cabins of 6 different passengers ships have been analyzed. Noise inside cabins is influenced by both local effects and global effects. IMO and Class Societies use dB(A) to assess comfort but it seems not adequate. Noise indexes such as RC Mk II can be applied to obtain a better comfort evaluation. Noise inside cabins is more influenced by HVAC than by ship operative conditions. Abstract: The acoustic comfort in passenger cabins on board six passenger ships is analyzed in this paper. The overall noise inside cabins is first evaluated, then the effect of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is investigated and several criteria, typical from the civil field (Noise Criterion, Room Criterion, etc.), are applied and compared. The effect of different operative conditions in terms of revolutions per minute of engines, propellers and generators, of propeller pitch and of engine power is investigated as well, highlighting the differences in terms of measured noise and of indicators performances. The results of the study suggest that the current normative framework and regulations about noise on board ships, based on dB(A) limits only, could effectively be revised to take into account spectral components, whose effect would otherwise be neglected.