Case Study
South Shields Regeneration: Bubble Curtains proven to reduce noise by 99% during marine construction
Marine Civils & CoastalClient
John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd
Location
South Shields, Holborn, River Tyne
Objective
Construction of a new river wall as part of 9 hectare dockyard redevelopment
Challenge
Mitigating underwater noise pollution to protect migrating Atlantic salmon
The challenge
The South Shields dockyard redevelopment, a £20 million project by John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd, involved constructing a new river wall. However, impact piling—a necessary step in construction—produces high levels of underwater noise, which can be harmful to marine life, particularly migrating Atlantic salmon.
Regulatory limits set by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Environment Agency required noise levels to remain below 160dB to prevent disruption to fish migration. Traditional piling methods would exceed this limit, potentially delaying the project and harming the local ecosystem.
The solution
To ensure compliance and protect marine life, Frog Environmental installed an innovative 91-meter-long Bubble Curtain, the first of its kind used in the UK for piling operations.
This technology creates a barrier of rising bubbles that absorbs and diffuses sound waves, effectively reducing underwater noise levels.
Key features of the Bubble Curtain system include:
Full encapsulation
The construction zone was enclosed within a protective bubble screen, mitigating noise transmission.
Adaptive design
The system functioned efficiently across both tidal conditions, eliminating construction downtime.
Sustainability
The technology is reusable for future marine projects, reducing environmental impact and costs.
The results
99% noise reduction
Underwater noise levels were reduced from 163dB to just 140dB, well below the regulatory threshold of 160dB
Continuous operation
The Bubble Curtain allowed work to continue during tidal periods, saving approximately one week of construction time.
Regulatory compliance
Enabled adherence to MMO and Environment Agency regulations without additional mitigation measures
Significant cost savings
By preventing construction delays, the project achieved significant financial efficiencies
Award-winning innovation
The project received an International Gold Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice
“The results (of the bubble curtain) were quite dramatic – in fact, startling… we have a workable solution that we’ve proved has a dramatic impact on noise propagation.”
David McLaren, Site Manager – Marine & Civils
John F Hunt Regeneration
The products
Sound Attenuation Bubble Curtains
- Underwater noise and vibration control, mitigating sound from piling, dredging, and construction activities
- Protects fresh water & marine life, minimising acoustic disturbance to sensitive species
- Does not block navigation, allowing vessels to pass freely
- Flexible deployment that easily adapts to varying depths and project needs
- Process driven and design led solution
Aeration Bubble Curtains
- Lightweight, modular design allows quick setup in urgent situations
- Fine microbubbles restore dissolved oxygen levels fast, stabilising water quality
- No submerged moving parts means low risk of mechanical failure and minimal maintenance under pressure
- Bubble aeration systems can be adapted to various water bodies or emergency site conditions
Case Studies
Real solutions, proven results
Knowledge Hub
Sharing good practice
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![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Micro bubble curtains study: impact on sediment dispersal
This study outlines findings of using Bubble Curtains for effective sediment control.
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Influencing river morphodynamics with bubble screens
The reported laboratory experiments demonstrate the potential of the bubble-screen technique to modify the morphology in a variety of applications in shallow rivers and open channels.
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![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Influencing bend morphodynamics with an air bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Silt-control-using-SiltMats-and-Bubble-barrier-Yearl-Weir-800x600.jpg-1]()
Reduction of bend scour with an air-bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Influencing flow patterns and bed morphology with an air bubble screen
The ability of a bubble screen to redistribute the flow field and bed morphology in shallow rivers and open channels has been investigated in laboratory experiments.
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![Curtain-Blasting-Marinette-Credit-BubbleTubingR]()
Mitigating underwater explosion effects with bubble curtains
Mitigation of shocks and noises is made possible by the use of a bubble curtain set around the explosive charge.
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Developing an underwater shock suppression system to mitigate underwater blast effects on marine life
Research findings evaluating the performance of the bubble screens at Roach Cove, an underwater demolition training area.
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![case-study-gallery-5]()
Noise reduction by an air bubble curtain in offshore pile driving
In this paper, a model is proposed for the investigation of the sound reduction during marine piling when an air-bubble curtain is placed around the pile.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Bubble Curtains can be used to inhibit carp
This research covers findings of field testing of a bubble curtain deterrent system for common carp.
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