MICHAEL JASNY: “Shipping noise falls across the same frequencies that these animals use for all their vital behaviors - for feeding, for finding mates, for avoiding predators and for navigating.”
BARBARA KLEIN: Mr. Jasny says sound travels very effectively underwater. And it is not just whales he is worried about.
MICHAEL JASNY: “The entire web of life in the oceans depends on sound. And as more and more research has been done, it’s been very clear that what we have on our hands is really a major problem. It’s a serious problem. It’s global problem. Fortunately, in shipping we have a problem that has a solution.”
STEVE EMBER: One answer is to design quieter ships. America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has four new ships that are made to be quieter. Michael Bahtiarian works for Noise Control Engineering, the company which helped design the boats.
MICHAEL BAHTIARIAN: “These NOAA ships show that you can get fairly quiet - I think quiet enough -- because they are able at eleven knots to go up and count a fish and not startle the fish so they can actually count it.”
STEVE EMBER: Mr. Bahtiarian says the main source of noise pollution is the propeller. Better shaped propellers and ship designs can help to reduce noise. NOAA’s ships also have costly engines, which produce less noise. Mr. Bahtiarian says the technology to make quieter ships does exist and has been used in the military for some time.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25