Valter Cergol, Cergol Marinetechnik GmbH
The scope of this study is to represent the results obtained from the acoustic analysis performed with the developed numerical model and on-site measured underwater noise during the icebreaking operations in ice infested waters and the impact on the marine fauna. The introduction illustrates the hearing characteristics and the definition of the hearing sensitivity of the marine mammals.-seals The critical underwater noise levels in terms of TTS and PTS are illustrated. The theory of the sound and underwater noise propagation is the base of the performed study .The second part of the investigation is related to the performed underwater noise prediction calculation . The explanation of the developed numerical model and discussion of the obtained underwater noise levels is the base for the diagnostic of environmental impact on marine mammal-seals. In order to evaluate and validate the developed methodology underwater noise measurements have been performed. At the end the conclusions based on the obtained result of the study and performed measurements are illustrated.