Enhancing Shipboard Sound and Vibration Testing with the CoCo-90X
IVC Technologies recently completed a comprehensive sound and vibration evaluation aboard a newly constructed passenger and vehicle ferry as part of the vessel’s commissioning process. The assessment, performed using Crystal Instruments’ CoCo-90X handheld dynamic signal analyzer, demonstrates how advanced portable diagnostic tools are supporting compliance with maritime standards while ensuring comfort and safety for crew and passengers.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements with Field-Ready Technology
Vibration data was evaluated under ISO 20283-5, which offers guidelines for assessing vibration levels with respect to onboard habitability. Additionally, the acoustic portion of the study was conducted in accordance with NVIC 12-82, a U.S. Coast Guard circular that sets noise exposure guidelines aboard vessels and used the Leff(24) methodology to evaluate 24-hour effective noise exposure.
Data was collected across a wide range of shipboard locations—engine rooms, passenger seating areas, decks, pilothouse zones—at relevant occupational heights. Measurements were captured using a combination of sound level meters and tri-axial accelerometers, integrated seamlessly through the CoCo-90X’s multi-channel capabilities.
Vibration levels across the ship were uniformly within the tolerances outlined by ISO standards, affirming that no corrective action was needed on that front.
In high-noise environments like the engine room and certain outdoor zones near air intake fans, sound pressure levels exceeded the 82 dB(A) Leff(24) threshold, highlighting areas that may require mitigation or operational controls. Other occupied areas—including all indoor passenger seating zones—fell within acceptable exposure ranges.
Why the CoCo-90X was the Right Tool
Shipboard diagnostics pose several challenges. Testing often takes place during narrow commissioning windows, within confined environments, and amid limited power access. The CoCo-90X’s battery-powered portability, 16-channel synchronous data acquisition, and long-duration recording capabilities made it ideal for the job. Where conventional data collectors might miss low-frequency or slow-speed events, the CoCo-90X captured rich datasets suitable for both frequency and time-domain analysis—even across extended recording windows.
What sets the CoCo-90X apart is its ability to process vibration data in real time according to internationally recognized standards. This includes the recently updated ISO 20283-5, which specifies measurement and evaluation methods for shipboard vibration with regard to habitability, as well as ISO 2631-1, which addresses whole-body human exposure to mechanical vibration. While not used in this particular application, the system also supports ISO 5349-1, relevant for hand-arm vibration exposure. During this project, the CoCo-90X’s real-time compliance with ISO 20283-5 was especially valuable, enabling the precise capture of RMS velocity in the 1–80 Hz range—critical for evaluating structural resonance and slow-speed machinery-induced discomfort—without the need for repeated passes or post-processing. This reduced field time and increased diagnostic confidence.
Supporting Shipbuilders, Operators, and Compliance Teams
For shipbuilders and commissioning teams, the ability to rapidly collect, analyze, and report on acoustic and vibration data is critical—especially when aligning with evolving standards such as the IMO’s Code on Noise Levels On Board Ships (MSC.337(91)), which seeks to protect crew health and operational safety through acoustic design.
IVC Technologies, equipped with expert technicians and field-ready tools like the CoCo-90X in conjunction with supporting analysis software from Crystal Instruments, offers a reliable pathway to meeting these standards. Their work helps ensure that newbuild vessels not only pass regulatory benchmarks but also deliver an environment that’s genuinely fit for human occupancy.
A Smarter Approach to Onboard Diagnostics
As vessels become more complex and regulatory demands more nuanced, diagnostic precision must keep pace. The CoCo-90X’s deployment in this project underscores the growing value of scalable, high-resolution tools that fit into a single technician’s hands yet deliver lab-grade results.
Whether it’s a commissioning check, a habitability audit, or root cause analysis, portable analyzers like the CoCo-90X are shaping the future of vibration and acoustics testing in the maritime sector. The small form factor, extended battery life, and multichannel capabilities make the CoCo-90X ideal for easy and rapid deployment to a wide range of remote and mobile applications. Supporting analysis software extends the capabilities of the Coco-90X for a wide range of test specifications .
For more information about IVC Technologies’ acoustic and vibration diagnostics, visit www.ivctechnologies.com.
To learn more about the CoCo-90X and other Crystal Instruments solutions, visit www.crystalinstruments.com or contact info@go-ci.com.