Le Jacques-Cartier, the latest sister ship in the Ponant Explorer series, is awarded with the Underwater Radiated Noise – Controlled rating issued by Bureau Veritas, the world leader is testing, inspection and certification services. Le Jacques-Cartier is one of the few cruise ships to receive this certification, reinforcing Ponant’s commitment to environmental conservation and the state-of-the-art design of the Ponant Explorer series.
Bureau Veritas has distinguished an underwater noise rating system measuring the acoustic sound signature, or sound radiation levels, of ships. The company evaluates the noise level of the ship compared to the noise threshold of the marine fauna in order to manage and mitigate the environmental impact. The sound tests were conducted on Le Jacques-Cartier by Bureau Veritas and acoustic specialists Quiet Oceans in September off the coast of Morgat, in the Gulf of Morbihan, using a measurement buoy with three hydrophones.
"Our approach promotes reliable data through a holistic and transparent process," says Eric Baudin, Head of the Measurement Department at Bureau Veritas. "The measurements take into account the environment in which they were carried out, allowing for a measurement specific to the vessel."
The rating is awarded for a period of five years at a maximum speed of 13 knots. This complements the Comfort 1 certification already issued by Bureau Veritas to the entire Ponant fleet, guaranteeing the lowest possible noise impact level.
Ponant continues to equip its fleet with the latest green technologies in order to limit underwater noise pollution. In 2017, the company supported the ECHO program, an initiative taken by the Port of Vancouver, where ships deliberately reduced speed in a key feeding area for whales in order to reduce underwater noise. Since then, Ponant has extended these measures, limiting the average speed of all its vessels to 10 knots, regardless of the navigation zone, in order to protect underwater fauna. Ponant has also contributed to the European collaborative research project AQUO, which studies the modeling of underwater noise. The study highlights the impact of noise radiation linked to maritime transport on wildlife and has notably published recommendations for optimizing the construction of future ships. This contribution continues with PIAQUO, an implementation project using the AQUO tools and approach.
