Singapore | November 18, 2025 – Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. (EPS) has taken a significant step in reducing shipping’s ecological footprint by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with classification society DNV and Hengli Shipyard. The collaboration will implement the DNV Silent-E class notation on EPS’s upcoming series of 6,000 TEU container vessels.
The Silent-E notation confirms that vessels are designed and built to effectively control underwater noise emissions, an increasingly recognized form of ocean pollution that disrupts marine ecosystems, particularly cetaceans and fish. By minimizing noise, the vessels support marine biodiversity and demonstrate EPS’s commitment to sustainable shipping practices.
Environmental Commitment: Life Below Water
The initiative aligns with EPS’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, specifically advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
“Initiatives like this not only support marine biodiversity but also help prepare our fleet for evolving regulatory expectations and incentive programmes worldwide.“
Driving Regulatory Preparedness
EPS actively participates in international efforts to manage Underwater Radiated Noise (URN), contributing to the IMO working group on reducing URN. This involvement allows the company to help shape emerging standards for low-noise shipping from a shipowner’s perspective.
By adopting the Silent(E) notation, EPS ensures that its fleet is prepared for evolving global regulations while delivering tangible environmental benefits. Ports in regions such as Canada and the U.S. West Coast are already offering incentives, including fee discounts, for vessels demonstrating low-noise performance.
The Significance of the DNV Silent(E) Notation
The Silent-E class notation is a voluntary certification verifying that a vessel meets specific limits for underwater noise emissions during standard operations. The “E” denotes Environmental, highlighting that the criteria are designed to minimize impact on sensitive marine ecosystems.
Ships generate URN primarily from propeller cavitation and machinery vibrations. Underwater noise can mask natural sounds critical for marine mammals and fish, affecting communication, navigation, feeding, and breeding patterns, and causing stress or habitat avoidance.
How Silent(E) is Achieved
Silent(E) requires targeted design and construction measures, often balancing noise reduction with operational efficiency:
- Propeller Optimization – Reduces cavitation by adjusting propeller diameter, blade count, and wake inflow to lower rotation speeds.
- Machinery Isolation – Reduces engine and generator vibrations via resilient mounts or low-vibration machinery configurations.
Partners in Sustainability
| Entity | Role in Initiative |
| Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) | Shipowner, committing fleet to low-noise standards and IMO URN development. |
| DNV | Classification Society, providing the Silent(E) class notation and verification framework. |
| Hengli Shipyard | Shipbuilder, responsible for implementing the noise-reducing design and construction features. |
Looking Ahead
This partnership represents a proactive move in sustainable shipping, combining cutting-edge vessel design with global ESG goals. EPS continues to advance practical solutions that reduce environmental impact while supporting a quieter, healthier ocean for future generations.
About Eastern Pacific Shipping – EPS
Founded 60 years ago and headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years, EPS – Eastern Pacific Shipping is a leading shipping company committed to technology-driven and environmentally responsible growth. The company operates a versatile fleet of 31 million deadweight tonnes across containership, dry bulk, gas, and tanker segments, supported by 7,000 skilled sea and shore staff. EPS integrates its commercial, finance, innovation, IT, legal, manning, operations, and technical teams to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable shipping solutions worldwide.
Source: Eastern Pacific Shipping