Port of Amsterdam launches campaign to reduce noise pollution
Beeps replaced by hissing sound
No more beeps of vehicles in reverse like shovels, cranes, lorries and fork-lift in the Amsterdam port area. As part of a new noise reduction campaign launched by Port of Amsterdam under the name ‘HoorbaarMinder’, the Port will be replacing the beeping noises produced by vehicles in the port area with a more discreet hissing sound. As well as being safer for all parties concerned, this will also reduce noise pollution, thereby improving the quality of life in the area overall.
HoorbaarMinder
Port of Amsterdam today kicked off the HoorbaarMinder campaign at Rietlanden Terminals, as part of its efforts to improve the quality of life in the greater port area. The campaign comes on the heels of the ‘eNoses’ project, in which 41 electronic ‘noses’ were set up to detect any changes in air composition and locate the source of any odour pollution 24 hours a day.
From ‘beep’ to ‘hiss’
The HoorbaarMinder campaign seeks to reduce noise pollution by eliminating the beeping noises generated by vehicle alarm systems (including noises activated while a vehicle is reversing) installed in vehicles such as shovels, cranes, lorries and fork-lift trucks and replacing them with a less intrusive hissing sound. This sound can easily be detected at close proximity to the vehicles in question (including reversing vehicles), but fades into the background once this distance is increased.
A total of 100 vehicles will be converted in this way during the pilot project stage, which will last until the end of this year. This is set to be followed, over time, by an estimated total of 1,000 vehicles in the Westpoort port area.
The ultimate objective is to replace the alarms at all companies operating in the port area with more discreet alert systems. These efforts are subsequently to be extended to the businesses located on the industrial estates of the municipalities of Zaanstad, Beverwijk and Velsen.