Do not merge environmental emission with onboard acceptance.
A NEPTUNES-type or ISO 2922 berth-noise activity concerns airborne sound emitted by a vessel into a port or harbour environment under a defined moored condition. An onboard noise survey concerns sound in machinery spaces, work areas, control rooms or accommodation. A pre-delivery or sea-trial programme can include onboard noise, vibration, HVAC, environmental and commissioning measurements, but it is not one universal test and it does not automatically include a port-emission assessment.
| Question | Primary evidence route | Receiver or decision | Do not claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does the moored vessel emit toward the port environment? | NEPTUNES / ESI airborne-noise survey | Port, environmental or source-ranking decision | Onboard occupational compliance from an external reading |
| Are onboard spaces within the agreed noise basis? | Onboard noise survey | Crew, owner, contract, class or flag review | Port-community emission from an interior result |
| Which measurements are needed before handover? | Pre-delivery and sea-trial measurements | Owner, yard, maker, contract or authorised reviewer | Complete sea-trial management or automatic vessel acceptance |
Where one project needs all three, issue separate method sections and result tables. Shared timestamps and operating logs can improve traceability, but they do not make different quantities interchangeable.
Use the NEPTUNES and ESI moored-ship guide for the environmental-emission boundary and the newbuilding sea-trial noise and vibration checklist for trial-readiness planning.
Write the decision before booking the attendance.
Record the report recipient, purpose, current procedure edition, contract or approved specification, required quantity, criterion source, witness, submission format and acceptance owner. For a port-noise activity, confirm whether the work is an engineering source study, an ISO 2922 measurement, a NEPTUNES-protocol report or another port instruction. The Environmental Ship Index currently states that its Noise module is being discontinued and that new applications are no longer accepted, so a historic ESI Noise route must not be sold as an available score or incentive without direct confirmation.
| Scope ID | Decision and recipient | Procedure / edition | Quantity and condition | Criterion / clause | Witness / acceptance owner | Open limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCOPE-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| SCOPE-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
ISO 19019 gives general instructions for planning, carrying out and reporting sea trials identified in a contract; it does not supply every project acceptance criterion. ISO 2923 addresses onboard noise measurement conditions. IMO resolution MSC.337(91), project specifications and class or flag instructions can control a particular onboard noise decision. Cite only the document and edition that actually govern the vessel.
Make control, observation and acceptance roles explicit.
The master and authorised ship staff control the vessel. The yard or trial director may control the sequence. Makers can control equipment settings. The measurement team controls its instruments and records. Owner, class, flag, port or contractual reviewers control only the decisions assigned to them. A person witnessing a run does not automatically approve the method or result.
| Activity | Controls action | Records evidence | Witnesses | Reviews result | Stops / repeats run | Contact channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel or machinery state | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| Measurement and calibration | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| Deviation and disposition | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
Agree one time source and one run-announcement protocol before the first measurement. Record who can declare a plateau stable, who can invalidate an interval, who receives preliminary information and which observations require immediate safety or operational escalation.
Define the emission state before selecting positions.
List auxiliary engines, exhaust outlets, ventilation openings, fans, pumps, boilers, cargo systems, cranes, reefers, transformers, hydraulic equipment and shore-power equipment that may operate during the intended port call. Record normal, minimum, maximum and alternative configurations and identify temporary or abnormal equipment. A close-source reading can help rank candidates, but it is not automatically a protocol receiver result or proof of dominance at a distant location.
| Source ID / location | Equipment and outlet | Normal state / load | Alternative state | Potential tone / low frequency | Measurement position | Photo / drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRC-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| SRC-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| SRC-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
Record openings, shielding and directivity that can change the external field. If a source can be switched or loaded safely, pre-plan the controlled comparison and decision rule. The responsible vessel personnel—not the surveyor—authorise any operational change.
Freeze the ship and berth state for every valid interval.
Capture generator identity and load, shore-power status, HVAC and fan duty, cargo work, pumps, reefers, boiler, hotel load, open doors or louvers, draught, freeboard, side alongside and relevant temporary work. Also record adjacent vessels, terminal equipment, vehicles, industrial activity, public-address events and other sources that could contaminate or mask the vessel contribution.
| Interval / time | Generation / shore power | HVAC / fans | Cargo / hotel / reefers | Doors / openings | Port background | Valid / repeat / qualify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BERTH-01 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| BERTH-02 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| BERTH-03 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
A quiet demonstration state can be technically neat yet commercially irrelevant if it does not represent the intended port operation. Mark both the requested condition and the achieved condition. Do not repair the log after the visit from memory.
Make the berth measurement reproducible.
Record vessel reference points, waterline and freeboard, source heights, microphone coordinates and height, distance, quay edge, barriers, reflecting façades, terminal structures and the actual line of sight. Photograph each position and mark it on a drawing. Record wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature and any additional observations required by the selected procedure.
| Position / interval | Coordinates / height / distance | Barrier / reflection | Wind / weather | Background source | Field check | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIC-___ / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| MIC-___ / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
ISO 2922:2020 provides conditions for comparable airborne-sound measurements from vessels in ports and harbours and refers compliant data to 25 m when its applicability conditions are met. It does not replace a current NEPTUNES protocol or a port-specific instruction. State the selected route and every departure.
Link every test point to a handover decision.
Translate the contract, approved specification, notation, maker requirement, owner limit or diagnostic question into a row. Identify the space or equipment, quantity, axis or microphone point, operating plateau, acquisition duration, processing, witness, preliminary review and close-out evidence. Keep onboard noise, habitability vibration, machinery vibration, structural vibration, PA/GA, HVAC, IAQ, thermal comfort and lighting as separate technical scopes even when they share the same voyage.
| Test ID / requirement | Point / quantity | Operating plateau | Method / duration | Criterion source | Witness / reviewer | Close-out evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEST-___ / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| TEST-___ / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| TEST-___ / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
One summary value should not be stretched across incompatible decisions. If a result triggers diagnosis, record the new question and additional channels instead of presenting the acceptance measurement as proof of a root cause.
Record the achieved state beside the planned state.
For each run, capture vessel speed through water and over ground where relevant, propulsion RPM, shaft or propeller state, pitch, power or load, generator and pump lineup, draught, trim, displacement basis, heading, water depth, sea state, wind, stabilisers, thrusters, HVAC state and the time interval used for measurement. Define tolerances and stabilisation time before sailing.
| Run / UTC | Speed / heading | RPM / pitch / load | Draught / trim | Machinery lineup | Sea / wind / depth | Stable interval / deviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUN-01 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| RUN-02 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| RUN-03 / ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
The master, bridge team, chief engineer, trial director and authorised parties control vessel and machinery operation. This evidence pack does not authorise unsafe speed changes, restricted-range operation, disabled protection, inaccessible locations or testing that conflicts with navigation or vessel safety.
Trace every reported value to a channel and clock.
Record instrument make, model, serial, channel, transducer or microphone, sensitivity, range, sample rate, bandwidth, weighting, integration or averaging, mounting or orientation, calibration certificate and pre/post field check. Connect acoustic, vibration, RPM, speed, load, weather and operator logs through a common time source or a documented offset check.
| Channel / point | Instrument / serial | Quantity / units | Settings / mounting | Calibration / pre-post check | Clock / offset | Raw file |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| CH-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| CH-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
Retain original data and processing configuration. A valid calibration certificate does not cure overload, poor mounting, an incorrect range, a blocked microphone, time drift or a measurement taken under the wrong operating condition.
Decide whether to retain, repeat or qualify while evidence is available.
Log unstable RPM or load, interrupted plateau, unexpected machinery changes, contamination, wind or rain, adjacent-port activity, access loss, sensor movement, overload, dropout, clock issue, incorrect point, unavailable witness and every departure from the agreed method. Assign an owner and immediate disposition. Preserve excluded data with its reason rather than deleting it silently.
| Deviation ID / time | Affected run / point | Observed departure | Evidence affected | Immediate action | Retain / repeat / qualify | Owner / witness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEV-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| DEV-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
When a required state cannot be achieved, do not relabel a nearby state as equivalent. State what was measured, which decision remains open and whether the limitation needs a new trial, engineering review or acceptance by the responsible party.
Separate measured fact, evaluation and acceptance.
Preliminary communication should identify the run, condition, point, quantity, processing basis and applicable criterion. Distinguish an observed value from an engineering interpretation, root-cause hypothesis, recommended action and final acceptance decision. A witnessed value is not automatically approved, and a measurement team should not speak for an owner, maker, yard, class society, flag administration, port or programme administrator.
| Finding ID | Measured fact | Basis / criterion | Evaluation / confidence | Action or review owner | Close-out evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIND-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | Open / qualified / closed |
| FIND-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | Open / qualified / closed |
Use issue identifiers that survive into the final report and punch list. If later processing changes a preliminary value or conclusion, record the revision, reason, reviewer and affected decision.
Repeat the material condition, not just the location.
A meaningful comparison repeats the method, point, instrument arrangement, processing, vessel state, source lineup, weather or sea constraints and stable interval as closely as practical. For berth noise, also match source load, shore power, openings, background and geometry. For sea trials, match draught, trim, speed, RPM, pitch, load, machinery combination and environmental state. State every unavoidable difference.
| Comparison ID | Baseline run / condition | Authorised action | Retest run / condition | Matched controls | Unavoidable difference | Comparable / limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RETEST-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
| RETEST-___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
Do not publish an improvement percentage unless the same quantity, units, processing and sufficiently matched conditions support it. Where the comparison is not valid, report the two observations separately and state what further work is required.
Prepare useful first-party evidence without inventing a case.
Project decision
What berth-emission or pre-delivery question was commissioned, and who owned the decision?
Controlled condition
Which vessel, machinery, source, trial, environmental and measurement controls were documented?
Evidence-supported finding
Which measured relationship was established, and what remained outside scope?
Authorised response
Which operating, repair, design, balancing, isolation or further-test action was approved?
Matched verification
Which conditions and channels were repeated, and what difference limited comparison?
Disclosure permission
Who approved publication, which identifiers and values were removed, and which figures may be shown?
This is a blank evidence structure, not a completed customer project. Do not add a vessel, operator, yard, port, maker, class, flag, complaint, measured value, score, failure, pass, correction, improvement, testimonial, reviewer or business outcome without contemporaneous records and written publication permission.
Make the handover auditable by the actual reviewer.
- The report identifies vessel, location, date, purpose, recipient, method, edition, criterion and acceptance owner.
- Moored environmental emission, onboard noise and other sea-trial quantities remain in separate sections.
- Every result traces to a point, channel, raw file, calibration record, time interval and achieved operating condition.
- Geometry, weather, background and source state support each berth-noise conclusion.
- Speed, RPM, pitch, load, draught, trim, machinery lineup and sea condition support each trial conclusion.
- Deviations, rejected intervals, unavailable states, uncertainty, repeatability and untested questions remain visible.
- Preliminary results, engineering evaluation, recommendation and authorised acceptance are not conflated.
- Retest comparisons state both matched controls and unavoidable differences.
- Publication and structured-data claims match visible, permissioned evidence.
Attendance and reporting can support an owner, yard, port, manager, designer, maker, class or flag review. It does not establish supplier approval, programme eligibility, an ESI Noise score, class recognition, flag authorisation, guaranteed mobilisation, turnaround or acceptance.
Confirm the current document and project applicability.
- Environmental Ship Index currently states that the Noise module will be discontinued and new applications are no longer accepted.
- Port of Rotterdam’s 2022 notice explains the historic ESI Noise and NEPTUNES reporting context; its incentive dates must not be presented as current.
- ISO 2922:2020 addresses reproducible airborne sound measurement from vessels in ports and harbours and was confirmed current by ISO in 2026.
- ISO 19019:2005 provides basic instructions for planning, carrying out and reporting contract-identified sea trials.
- ISO 2923:1996 addresses techniques and conditions for measuring noise onboard inland and seagoing vessels.
- ISO 20283-5:2016 covers measurement, evaluation and reporting of vibration with regard to habitability on passenger and merchant ships.
- IMO’s resolution index records MSC.337(91), the Code on Noise Levels on Board Ships.
These sources define method and regulatory context; they do not replace the current contract, approved specification, procedure, class rule, flag instruction, port requirement or decision assigned to the actual vessel.
Convert the blank pack into a controlled attendance plan.
Provide the vessel and project particulars, berth or trial location, intended decision, current method and criteria, drawings, source or machinery schedule, operating runs, witness list, report route, known deviations and required close-out date. The field matrix can then be tailored before mobilisation.
Request a measurement scopeReview moored-ship noiseReview pre-delivery trials