Acoustic mitigation of noise in ports: an original methodology for the identification of intervention priorities

The paper presents an original methodology for the identification of intervention priorities through a tailored priority index IP in areas that are highly-exposed to port noise. The methodology is applied to a case study developed in the framework of the European project ANCHOR, acronym of Advanced Noise Control strategies in HarbOuR, funded as part of the announcement Life 2017. In detail, the paper discusses the results of its application in the assessment of the evolution of port noise impacts in the city of Melilla, Spain. The methodology has been applied considering the port with or without the realization of an expansion project on three different time periods; differences between standard and the summer traffic peak season have been considered. Finally, the paper evaluates the realization of cold ironing in the most impacting port area, the passenger (Ro-Pax) terminal. The results of the analyses demonstrate how the measure is a key action to mitigate noise in port areas. The methodology is not limited to the identification of city areas that needs to be protected; it also aims to identify port areas where anti-noise actions would produce the greatest effect. The index also allows to build a ranking to understand where anti-noise actions are more useful and urgent.