FE460 Recreational watergraft noise and wave formation

Tapio Lahti, Jorma Rytkönen, Tuomo Leskelä, Pekka Tuunanen

The Finnish Environment, Land Use, p. 48. Only available in print (ISBN 952-11-0863-0).

Abstract

The Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finland, the Finnish Maritime Administration and the Ministry of the Environment, Finland organised an experiment to test watergraft noise and wave formation in Helsinki on 7 June 1999. The wave formations, noise levels, and the level of disturbance caused by the noise were evaluated on the basis of tests involving two jet-ski vehicles, two open boats with outboard-motors, and a motor cruiser. Observations were made at distances of 50 metres, 100 metres and 150 metres, at speeds varying from 10 km/h to the top speeds of the respective craft. Noise disturbance levels were assessed subjectively by a group of ten observers.

In the assessments it was found that the manner in which the watergraft is driven is the most significant factor in the level of disturbance. The distance between the observer and the watergraft plays a significant role in the level of disturbance. The noise subsides in proportion to distance according to noise-calculation formulas.

More information

Senior Adviser Pekka Tuunanen, Ministry of the Environment,
tel. +358 9 1603 9338, firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi