The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is moving forward with revisions to the 2014 guidelines for commercial ships in order to reduce underwater noise that threatens some marine species. The draft revisions, which still need to be approved by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee this summer. The revised guidelines detail best practices for commercial ships to reduce noise, including optimizing propeller and hull design, reducing speed, adjusting routes to minimize travel through sensitive areas and proper maintenance. While they apply to global shipping, the revisions note the potential for noise-sensitive species in the Arctic to be affected, along with the Inuit who live there.
