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Ship Acoustics

3-D Modelling with AutoSEA2
Vipac Engineers & Scientists Ltd offers consulting services to governments, defence organisations, shipbuilders and owners in shipboard noise control, structural dynamics, underwater acoustics and sea trials testing. The company is fully independent and maintains NATA accredited laboratories in several disciplines. The design and problem solving experience of Vipac's staff ranges from small craft, such as patrol boats, motor yachts, tugs and charter vessels, through to large ships such as bulk carriers, oil tankers, supply vessels, container vessels and specialised craft such as research vessels, frigates, mine hunters, submarines and offshore platforms. This experience, combined with leading edge technology enable Vipac to provide innovative and cost effective solutions to noise issues. Software such as AutoSEA2 is used for the design of full-system level prediction of shipboard noise and underwater acoustic signatures of research and naval vessels.

Shipboard Noise Control - Vipac's acoustic consulting services are used for proposed and existing vessels to improve crew and passenger comfort, meet tender specifications and provide a marketing edge over competitor's vessels. Through state-of-the-art structure-borne-noise modelling and empirical database information, complex predictions of noise levels can be made from the designers drawings. This allows the noise control treatments to be identified, optimised, costed and integrated into the overall planning of the vessel construction. In-house laboratory facilities are also available for the testing of acoustic treatments and materials.

Underwater Acoustics - Vipac's engineers are experienced in underwater acoustics through projects concerning buoyant fibre towed arrays for surveillance and seismic exploration, fixed hydrophone arrays for vessel classification, and hydrodynamic noise analyses. Mechanical vibration (sensed as radiated underwater noise) has long been an indicator of the condition of mechanical systems and structures. It is now one of the principle design considerations in the detectability and survivability of military vessels. Vipac is working on projects to minimise noise signatures from naval and ocean research vessels.

Sea Trial Testing - Vipac maintains a wide range of instrumentation, including sound level and intensity systems, hydrophones, multi-channel data acquisition systems, sophisticated multi-channel signal analysers and accelerometers, pressure and torsional transducers.

To find out more about these services, please email: