Noise as Environmental Nuisance of the Seaport Activity

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present noise as a serious threat to the environment, as well as to identify the obligations of EU Member States in the field of noise management and to attempt to present the specificity of the legal approach to determining and assessing noise levels in seaports using Poland as an example. Design/Methodology/Approach: A few research methods were applied: literature review, legal regulations analysis and case study. Findings: The legal regulations in force in the European Union have a strong influence on the management of seaports, which among other things is the result of demands to reduce noise generated by various forms of activities, and mainly transport and industrial ones, carried out at port areas. Practical implications: A key factor stimulating noise reduction in the EU’s seaports is legal and regulatory mechanism. The vast majority of European seaports comply with standards and legal regulations, resulting from the obligations of coastal states, arising from the EU membership. Originality value: This research is attempted to determine the specifics of seaport management system in connection with the need to take into account the standards and legal regulations in this area.