There’s a Kind of Hush
The takeoff roll has begun and with it, the noise in the cabin has increased to an annoying level. The copilot flips a switch and, in a couple of seconds, the noise disappears, replaced by a faint hum. You have just been introduced to active noise canceling (ANC), a well-proven technology that holds promise for yachts.

Shipboard noise control is both complex and costly because most structures, connections and noise-attenuating materials needed to reduce the transmission of noise and vibration come with significant weight penalties. This can be particularly disconcerting in the design of high-speed boats, where weight saving is critical. By installing a computer-controlled system that employs low hidden speakers and microphones in each living space, acoustic engineers at Ultra Electronics in Cambridge, England, can negate frequencies that affect passenger comfort. ANC is most effective if other irritating noises – clinking bottles, wave slap or exhaust notes – are eliminated by conventional passive means, thus allowing the ANC system to deal with a defined frequency range and amplitude, such as the intrusive sound of engines in a master suite or main salon. According to company spokesman Rob McDonald, this equipment can be easily adapted for shipboard use.