Impact Funding Resources
The European Space Agency (ESA) invites companies to participate in the ‘Space for Underwater Radiated Noise Management’ initiative. This opportunity aims to support the development of innovative services that leverage space technology to address the challenges posed by underwater radiated noise (URN) to the marine environment. The Call for Proposals welcomes submissions for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects. Please refer to the ‘Authorisation of Funding’ section below to determine your team’s eligibility for funding.
End Date17 Oct 2025 Funding AmountUnspecified Funding Resource TypeRequest for Proposal (RFP)
Funding ProviderESA Space Solutions
Request for Proposal (RFP)
ESA Space Solutions
The Challenge
Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) has emerged as a major and growing environmental pressure in marine ecosystems, largely driven by human activities such as commercial shipping and offshore operations. Among these, vessel traffic is the most significant source of continuous, low-frequency noise, with estimates indicating that 91% of Europe’s seas are exposed to ongoing shipping noise and 10% to high shipping density. Impulsive noise from activities such as seismic surveys or construction is more spatially limited, affecting around 8% of European marine areas.
Despite historically receiving less attention than other forms of marine pollution, the harmful effects of URN on marine life are increasingly recognised and URN is now emerging as a commercially relevant field across multiple maritime sectors.
Topics of Relevance
The most recurring use cases, as identified by several organisations in different maritime sectors, have been categorised below.
Quiet Maritime Environment
• Quiet Ship Design, Voluntary Certification and Compliance
• Quiet Ship Operation
• Quiet Port Initiatives
Environmental Services
• URN in ESG and Digital Maritime Analytics
• URN Monitoring
• Risk mapping of URN impacts
• Monitoring shipping and URN impact on Marine Protected Areas
Subsea Activity Noise Management
• Construction noise mitigation
• Continuous machinery noise
Value of Space
Direct detection of URN is not possible from space. However, several space-based assets provide valuable proxy data that can significantly enhance the understanding, monitoring, and mitigation of URN emissions. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Satellite communications: AIS (Automatic Identification System) data relayed via satellites enables near-global tracking of vessel movements, supporting the modelling and correlation of noise emissions with specific traffic patterns. When integrated with in-situ acoustic sensors or Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, AIS data can enhance both real-time and retrospective analysis of underwater noise.
• Satellite Earth Observation (EO): EO data can support environmental characterisation, including bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll concentration, all of which influence the propagation of sound underwater. This characterisation is fundamental not only for maritime traffic modelling, but also for the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for offshore developments. EO systems also contribute to monitoring vessel activity in sensitive or protected areas, assisting enforcement and conservation efforts.
• Satellite Positioning and Timing: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) underpin the positioning accuracy of AIS data, which is crucial for reliable noise modelling. Additionally, GNSS data can be used to implement geofencing of ecologically sensitive zones, enabling the enforcement of dynamic noise reduction measures or vessel exclusion policies.
What we look for
ESA invites tenders to develop and deploy innovative solutions that enhance URN management. We encourage companies to conduct Feasibility Studies or Demonstration Projects to address the increasing risks associated with climate change. We are seeking business ideas that demonstrate:
• Clear market opportunities and customer needs
• Commercially viable service concepts
• Feasible technical solutions
• Effective use of space data or technology
• Teams with business, technical, and financial expertise
