DETERMINATION OF SHIPS AS NOISE SOURCES & NOISE MAPPING AT PASSENGER & CRUISE PORT OF PIRAEUS

The passenger & cruise port of Piraeus is located at the south coast of the city. In the context of implementation of 2002/49/EC directive for the Agglomeration of Piraeus the above port was considered as a separate specific area. For the purpose of noise mapping at the port area, emissions from vessels were determined as noise sources using measurements, due to the fact that the European database of industrial noise and the software tool "Source DB" does not contain information about sound power levels of cruise & passenger vessels. Measurements were performed in compliance with EN ISO2922: 2000. For moving vessels were measured maximum sound pressure level LpASmax, and sound exposure level LAE and they were considered as linear sources. For moored vessels LpAeq were measured and they were considered as point sources. Also spectra analysis was performed. Ten types of vessels were recorded, 8 types of passenger vessels (ferries, flying dolphins, super-fast ferries, etc.) which cover the usual type of vessel at port of Piraeus and 2 types of cruise vessels (one medium and one large sized). Additionally, five 24h measurements were performed at representative positions of port area where noise levels were formed from vessels activities and road traffic. Within the port area there are 12 gates, 3 for cruise and 9 for passengers. At each gate there are more than one mooring points which are used from up to two typical vessels. A digital ground model was created for the purpose of noise mapping (terrain, buildings, other structures). Noise sources were set as point sources (mooring places) and linear sources (typical paths of moving vessels from the entrance of port to mooring points). The average daily movement data were provided from port authorities. Noise maps and measurements evaluation indicate that noise disturbance from vessel activities is insignificant.