SATURN Project Closing Event
We had the opportunity to deliver the SATURN project's closing event in conjunction with the Interreg North Sea-funded DEMASKÂ project workshop on key URN metrics in Brussels (26-27 May, 2025).
The outcome of this expert workshop was designed to be of value to practitioners, end-users and stakeholders directly involved in addressing the reduction of underwater noise. With several partners in common, the SATURN and DEMASK teams maximised synergies by combining efforts in this event to efficiently share outputs and explore fundamental issues of common and broader sectoral interest.
This two-part event began by highlighting the key SATURN project outputs by presenting them in the context of the current IMO URN Action Plan and Experience Building Phase (EBP), which is designed to facilitate the application of the IMO guidelines to vessels as part of the URN Management Planning Process*.
The second part of the event was then presented in conjunction with the DEMASK project team and addressed the development of noise metrics that are essential to provide a harmonised technical framework for evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of underwater noise reduction measures across all the above initiatives and as a universal bridge towards attaining regulatory compliance in the context of evolving definitions pertinent to Good Environmental Status under MSFD D11.
Event Proceedings
Presentations
Presentations and discussion topics were arranged, tailored, and optimised to facilitate meaningful connection with those involved in the IMO EBP and to support the DEMASK consortium to build on the SATURN results.
Below you can access copies of the presentations delivered as part of the event:
* MEPC.1/Circ.906 22 August 2023: Revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life. Applying the guidelines to vessels has the following key areas: URN Baselining, Noise management plan development, Target setting, Design and technical noise reduction approaches, Maintenance and operational approaches, Evaluation and monitoring, Incentivisation, Training and awareness.