Seaman's Handbook
ANNEX III. Technical details of sound signalling appliances
(a) Frequencies and range of audibility
The fundamental frequency of the signal shall lie within the range 70-700 Hz.
The range of audibility of the signal from a whistle shall be determined by those
frequencies, which may include the fundamental and/or one or more higher
frequencies, which lie within the range 180-700Hz (± 1 per cent) for a vessel of
20m or more in length, or 180-2100 Hz(±1 per cent) for a vessel of less than 20
in length and which provide and provide the sound pressure levels specified in
paragraph 1 (c) below.(b) Limits of fundamental frequencies
To ensure a wide variety of whistle characteristics, the fundamental frequency of
a whistle shall be between the following limits:
(i) 70-200 Hz, for a vessel 200 metres or more in length;
(ii) 130-350 Hz, for a vessel 75 metre but less than 200metres in length;
(iii) 250-700 Hz, for a vessel less than 75 metres in length.(c) Sound signal intensity and range of audibility
A whistle fitted in a vessel shall provide, in the direction of maximum intensity of
the whistle and at a distance of 1 metre from it, a sound pressure level in at least
one 1/3rd-octave band within the range of frequencies 180-700 Hz (± 1 per cent)
for a vessel of 20m or more in length, or 180-2100 Hz(±1 per cent) for a vessel of
less than 20 in length, of not less than the appropriate figure given in the table
below.
Length of vessel
in metres
1/3rd octave band level at 1 metre in
dB referred to 2x10-5 N/m2
Audibility range in
nautical miles
200 or more
75 but less than
200
20 but less than
75
less than 20
143
138
130
120
2
1.5
1
0.5
The range of audibility in the table above is for information and is approximately
the range at which a whistle may be heard on its forward axis with 90 per cent
probability in conditions of still air on board a vessel having average background
noise level at the listening posts (taken to be 68 dB in the octave band centred
on 250 Hz and 63dB in the octave band centred on 500 Hz).
In practice the range at which a whistle may be heard is extremely variable and
depends critically on weather conditions; the values given can be regarded as
typical but under conditions of strong wind or high ambient noise level at the
listening post the range may be much reduced.(d) Directional properties
The sound pressure level of a directional whistle shall not be more than 4 dB
below the prescribed sound pressure level on the axis at any direction in the
horizontal plane within ± 45 degrees on the axis. The sound pressure level at any
other direction in the horizontal plane shall not be more than 10dB below the
prescribed sound pressure level on the axis, so that the range in any direction
will be measured in that 1/3rd-octave band which determines the audibility range.(e) Positioning of whistles
When a directional whistle is to be used as the only whistle on a vessel, it shall
be installed with its maximum intensity directed straight ahead.
A whistle shall be placed as high as practicable on a vessel, in order to reduce
interception on the emitted sound by obstructions and also to minimising hearing
damage risk to personnel. The sound pressure level of the vessel's own signal at
listening posts shall not exceed 110 dB (A) and so far as practicable should not
exceed 100 dB (A).(f) Fitting of more than one whistle
If whistles are fitted at a distance apart of more than 100 metres, if shall be so
arranged that they are not sounded simultaneously.(g) Combined whistle systems
Is due to the presence of obstructions the sound field of a single whistle or of one
of the whistles referred to in paragraph 1 (f) above is likely to have a zone of
greatly reduced signal level, it is recommend that a combined whistle system be
fitted so as to overcome this reduction. For the purposes of the Rules a
combined whistle system is to be regarded as a single whistle. The whistles of a
combined whistle system shall be located at a distance apart of not more than
100 metres and arranges to be sounded simultaneously. The frequency of any
one whistle shall differ from those of the others by at least 10 Hz.
