Guidance for when undertaking noise impact assessments for pile driving in the marine environment

To develop and produce guidance for industry to undertake underwater noise risk assessments for pile-driving operations in the UK, focussed on the risk of injury to marine mammals and fish.

To meet the offshore renewable energy targets set out by the UK government and devolved administrations, a substantial increase in the number and size of offshore wind farms will be required.

This, in turn, may result in a considerable increase in the amount of impact piling being carried out within UK waters (including English, Welsh, Scottish, N.Irish, inshore and offshore).

Piling can be used for the installation of both fixed and floating windfarms and well as other structures such as harbour pontoons, and involves forcing a supporting or retaining structure into the seabed using a hydraulic hammer.

To meet the overall aim of this project (Section 2), the objectives are: 4.1.

Review key publications relating to underwater noise risk assessments of piling noise (e.g. source characterisation, sound propagation, sound exposure modelling and criteria) summarising new findings as well as recommended methods for improving noise risk assessments of the risk of injury to marine mammals and fish from piling.

4.2.

Based on the outputs of Objective 1, develop detailed guidance for assessing the risk of injury to marine mammals and fish posed by piling noise in UK waters.

4.3.

Discussion of potential further improvements to noise risk assessments that may be possible to implement in piling assessments in the short to medium term.

Available budget The total value of this project is £60,000 (GBP) including VAT If interested in this project potential bidders are invited to download the following documents and complete the conflict of interest form and the acceptance form of our terms and conditions attached to the invitation to tender letter (ITT).