Project

Marine pollution monitoring programme

This monitoring programme focuses on atmospheric pollution, water pollution and noise pollution in the oceans. Measurements will be carried out from aboard the Energy Observer catamaran using the on-board science stations, one of them assessing the water quality, the other air quality, whilst the measurement of (non-continuous) noise pollution will also be taken using a dedicated sensor. This data will be coupled with information collected via the on-board navigation system (wind, sunshine, marine current, depth, etc.) to provide an accurate picture of the environment surrounding the boat.

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Focus area

1 Act for energy transition

For a world of silence

Today, little has been written about noise pollution of the oceans, however numerous scientific studies agree on the damage it can cause to marine mammals as well as juvenile fish, which live amongst the rocks and coral reefs.

Since Jacques Cousteau’s time, the ocean has been perceived as a world of silence. This concept could not be further from the truth. This blue vastness is filled with sonic messages travelling hundreds of kilometres, passing on information and maintaining social bonds between underwater creatures.

The juvenile reef fish, for example, live as larvae in the open ocean and find their way to the reef thanks to the noises it makes. Given this insight, sound is even used to help the recruitment of juveniles on damaged reefs. Indeed, after a coral bleaching event, for example, the fish lose their homes, the reef dies and becomes silent, at which point the juveniles become disorientated. However, scientists have now managed to increase the recruitment rate for young fish by emitting the sound of healthy reefs to guide them.

Marine mammals, like dolphins and whales, devote three times as many neurons to hearing as land mammals. It is through their song and their clicks that these creatures communicate with one another, find partners, hunt their prey, find their way and get a sense of their environment.

This obscure world is filled with sounds like an underwater song of life.

Team

4 People involved in this project

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Problematic

As many ships as fish in the ocean

Our oceans are filling up with ships. Today, the global commercial fleet comprises around 95,000 vessels (source Marine Traffic) weighing in at a total of 1.92-billion tonnes of dead weight (light ship). Bulk carriers, which transport iron ore, coal, grain and other cargo, represent the largest proportion of the total tonnage, namely more than 40%.

It is reckoned that in terms of weight, there are as many ships as fish in the ocean. This global commercial fleet transports a total of 10.7-billion tonnes of freight each year, which represents 80% of the total global trade in terms of volume according to the IMO.

To pull off such a feat, ships have become larger, more numerous and capable of crossing the oceans at ever increasing speeds. The intensification of maritime shipping is having a considerable impact on marine ecosystems. Today, the issue of maritime pollution is central to protagonists involved in ecological transition and the maritime sector.

Real time maritime traffic in the world — i
© Marine Traffic
Real time maritime traffic

i
© Energy Observer Productions I George Conty
Commercial ships in the Panama Canal

Solution

Measuring air, water and noise pollution

Today, there is in-depth analysis of the atmospheric pollution in the globe’s major cities and in numerous ports. The damage to human health caused by certain pollutants, associated with industrialisation and transport (land, air or sea), has prompted more diligent monitoring of the air quality in cities. Multiple platforms make it possible to view this real-time online data. Measurements taken offshore or on the approach to ports are much more rare or, where they exist, they are taken from the vessels which are themselves polluting the air.

From 2022, the goal of measuring air pollution from Energy Observer involves continuous monitoring of numerous polluting emissions.

When it comes to water quality, direct and indirect pollution linked to maritime activities can alter its acidity levels or even lead to eutrophication.

With regards to noise pollution, there are two types.

Firstly, there is chronic pollution resulting from maritime traffic (vibrations and the noise from engines, cooling pumps, propeller cavitation, etc.), which has an impact on all underwater life with long-term repercussions on man’s health and the health of marine fauna.

Secondly, there is high-pitched noise pollution caused by seismic surveys blasting compressed air. The impact of these seismic surveys on the rest of the underwater creatures is still not widely known. However, the evidence is mounting and it is alarming.

The Energy Observer catamaran is the perfect platform for measuring atmospheric and noise pollution since it produces no direct emissions and is silent.

Impact

Raising awareness among boat operators about the preservation of marine ecosystems

The end goal is to create a trend chart grouping together all the environmental data in order to make optimum use of it and make it widely accessible. This visualisation will be an important educational tool in the bid to combat maritime pollution.

The raw data will also be available to boat operators, scientists and meteorologists to stimulate more extensive research into solutions to bring about an ecological transition of marine transport.

Today, the majority of vessels use routing software and energy performance measurements. Tomorrow, why not have a device for monitoring their environmental impact?