In June 2025, the LOWNOISER project reached an important milestone on its path to reducing harmful underwater noise from ships — a key step in protecting marine life and improving vessel performance.
Vibrol’s test structure under construction — a clear sign of progress toward a quieter, more sustainable future at sea. PHOTO: Vibrol
At our partner Vibrol’s cutting-edge test facilities in Finland, researchers successfully designed and simulated a lab-scale ship-like structure equipped with a vibrating machine. This setup mimics the way mechanical vibrations from onboard equipment propagate through a vessel’s hull and into the surrounding sea. By replicating real-world conditions in a controlled environment, the team created an ideal testbed for evaluating innovative vibration dampers developed by Vibrol.
These specially engineered dampers are designed to reduce vibrational energy either directly at the source or along its transmission paths through the ship’s structure. The initial simulations focused on two low-frequency vibration bands — 63 Hz and 126 Hz — known to travel long distances underwater and interfere with the communication and navigation of sensitive species like whales and dolphins.
Major Step Forward
Reducing vibrations at these critical frequencies has the potential to significantly lower underwater radiated noise (URN), a growing environmental concern in global shipping. Although physical testing will commence later this summer when the test rig is fully built, the team has already conducted detailed finite element analysis (FEA) to understand the performance of various damping solutions under simulated conditions.
“These preliminary findings will now be used in full-scale acoustic simulations to predict the real-world effectiveness of these solutions aboard actual vessels. The insights gained from this work will support the development of quieter ships that align with emerging regulatory standards and sustainability goals”, Jarkko Keinänen, CEO of Vibrol, says.
This achievement represents a major step forward in LowNoiser’s mission. By combining simulation, testing, and cross-sector collaboration, the project is paving the way for practical, scalable noise mitigation technologies that serve both the maritime industry and the marine environment.
