Sam Andrews
@oceanoculus.com
Science & stories from the sea (& occasionally the other 30% of the planet)
🌊 Marine science, tech, policy, sustainability writer
🤿 Founder Ocean Oculus, the ocean-focused communications microagency
📈 Researcher
☕ Tea drinker
🧀 Cheese eater
🐧 Bird admirer
🌊 Marine science, tech, policy, sustainability writer
🤿 Founder Ocean Oculus, the ocean-focused communications microagency
📈 Researcher
☕ Tea drinker
🧀 Cheese eater
🐧 Bird admirer
The very clever folks at @clearseasorg.bsky.social produced a series of fabulous articles giving an overview of the QVI projects
You can discover more about the work of these marine engineers in the “Quieter ship design: New-build and retrofit options” article here
➡️ clearseas.org/insigh...
8/8
You can discover more about the work of these marine engineers in the “Quieter ship design: New-build and retrofit options” article here
➡️ clearseas.org/insigh...
8/8
Quieter ship design: New-build and retrofit options – Clear Seas
Click to view glossary In the dark undersea world, sound is essential. Marine life relies on sound for communication, foraging, reproduction, and navigation. However, as human activity in the oceans increases, so does underwater radiated noise. Various industries contribute to ocean noise—offshore energy, construction, military operations, and of course vessel traffic. With growing activity from…
clearseas.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The very clever folks at @clearseasorg.bsky.social produced a series of fabulous articles giving an overview of the QVI projects
You can discover more about the work of these marine engineers in the “Quieter ship design: New-build and retrofit options” article here
➡️ clearseas.org/insigh...
8/8
You can discover more about the work of these marine engineers in the “Quieter ship design: New-build and retrofit options” article here
➡️ clearseas.org/insigh...
8/8
🤫 Dampening engine and other machine noise
🤫 Creating an underwater active noise cancellation system (a bit like noise cancellation headphones!)
Intrigued?
7/8
🤫 Creating an underwater active noise cancellation system (a bit like noise cancellation headphones!)
Intrigued?
7/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
🤫 Dampening engine and other machine noise
🤫 Creating an underwater active noise cancellation system (a bit like noise cancellation headphones!)
Intrigued?
7/8
🤫 Creating an underwater active noise cancellation system (a bit like noise cancellation headphones!)
Intrigued?
7/8
Through the Quiet Vessel Initiative, engineers looked at different ways of making vessels quieter, like
🤫 Designing propellers that push vessels through the water to produce less noise
🤫 Exploring different ways to push vessels through the water that are quieter than propellers
6/8
🤫 Designing propellers that push vessels through the water to produce less noise
🤫 Exploring different ways to push vessels through the water that are quieter than propellers
6/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Through the Quiet Vessel Initiative, engineers looked at different ways of making vessels quieter, like
🤫 Designing propellers that push vessels through the water to produce less noise
🤫 Exploring different ways to push vessels through the water that are quieter than propellers
6/8
🤫 Designing propellers that push vessels through the water to produce less noise
🤫 Exploring different ways to push vessels through the water that are quieter than propellers
6/8
Some of the ways to make vessels quieter involve changing how we do things, like going slower where it is safe to do so. Other ways relate to the design of the vessels and their various components.
This is where engineers come in.
5/8
This is where engineers come in.
5/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Some of the ways to make vessels quieter involve changing how we do things, like going slower where it is safe to do so. Other ways relate to the design of the vessels and their various components.
This is where engineers come in.
5/8
This is where engineers come in.
5/8
Now we’re not about to stop all of our noisy activity in the ocean, but we can do things to make our activities quieter
A few years ago, the Canadian Government launched the Quiet Vessel Initiative (QVI), which provides funding to projects to make ships, ferries, & other marine vessels quieter
4/8
A few years ago, the Canadian Government launched the Quiet Vessel Initiative (QVI), which provides funding to projects to make ships, ferries, & other marine vessels quieter
4/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Now we’re not about to stop all of our noisy activity in the ocean, but we can do things to make our activities quieter
A few years ago, the Canadian Government launched the Quiet Vessel Initiative (QVI), which provides funding to projects to make ships, ferries, & other marine vessels quieter
4/8
A few years ago, the Canadian Government launched the Quiet Vessel Initiative (QVI), which provides funding to projects to make ships, ferries, & other marine vessels quieter
4/8
Trouble is, with more boats, more offshore development, and climate change making it easier for sound to travel through the ocean, the ocean is becoming a much noisier place - so much so that marine life may find it harder and harder to go about their business.
3/8
3/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Trouble is, with more boats, more offshore development, and climate change making it easier for sound to travel through the ocean, the ocean is becoming a much noisier place - so much so that marine life may find it harder and harder to go about their business.
3/8
3/8
In the ocean, sound is super important for all sorts of marine species. Some use it to find food, some find their way around, and some to communicate.
2/8
2/8
November 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
In the ocean, sound is super important for all sorts of marine species. Some use it to find food, some find their way around, and some to communicate.
2/8
2/8
🗣️ Express yourself!
Manatees aren’t afraid to let others know how they are feeling with chirps, squeaks, and grunts.
5/5
Manatees aren’t afraid to let others know how they are feeling with chirps, squeaks, and grunts.
5/5
November 4, 2025 at 1:33 PM
🗣️ Express yourself!
Manatees aren’t afraid to let others know how they are feeling with chirps, squeaks, and grunts.
5/5
Manatees aren’t afraid to let others know how they are feeling with chirps, squeaks, and grunts.
5/5
☺️ Take it slow.
Manatees are not fast moving. Sometimes they even end up with algae growing on their backs!
4/5
Manatees are not fast moving. Sometimes they even end up with algae growing on their backs!
4/5
November 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
☺️ Take it slow.
Manatees are not fast moving. Sometimes they even end up with algae growing on their backs!
4/5
Manatees are not fast moving. Sometimes they even end up with algae growing on their backs!
4/5
🥬 Eat your greens!
Manatees spend up to eight hours a day eating seagrasses and other vegetation
3/5
Manatees spend up to eight hours a day eating seagrasses and other vegetation
3/5
November 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🥬 Eat your greens!
Manatees spend up to eight hours a day eating seagrasses and other vegetation
3/5
Manatees spend up to eight hours a day eating seagrasses and other vegetation
3/5
🛀 Go for a dip in warm water or take a hot bath (or shower)!
Manatees are sensitive to the cold, so much so that they’ll huddle around warm springs and even discharge pipes from power stations that pump out warm water if they need to
2/5
Manatees are sensitive to the cold, so much so that they’ll huddle around warm springs and even discharge pipes from power stations that pump out warm water if they need to
2/5
November 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
🛀 Go for a dip in warm water or take a hot bath (or shower)!
Manatees are sensitive to the cold, so much so that they’ll huddle around warm springs and even discharge pipes from power stations that pump out warm water if they need to
2/5
Manatees are sensitive to the cold, so much so that they’ll huddle around warm springs and even discharge pipes from power stations that pump out warm water if they need to
2/5
Without red light to reflect, the blood-belly comb jellyfish appears almost black!
Which is quite handy for avoiding predators.
3/3
Which is quite handy for avoiding predators.
3/3
November 3, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Without red light to reflect, the blood-belly comb jellyfish appears almost black!
Which is quite handy for avoiding predators.
3/3
Which is quite handy for avoiding predators.
3/3
That’s because red light doesn’t far far into the ocean depths. Sunlight contains all the colours of the spectrum, but as it travels through water, red wavelengths are absorbed quickly, leaving mostly blue and green light.
2/3
2/3
November 3, 2025 at 8:40 AM
That’s because red light doesn’t far far into the ocean depths. Sunlight contains all the colours of the spectrum, but as it travels through water, red wavelengths are absorbed quickly, leaving mostly blue and green light.
2/3
2/3
With Cyclone Alfred threatening a number of nests at the end of February, rescue crews had to move a number of eggs into incubators to keep them safe. The numbers include sea turtles that were released onto beaches after they had hatched in the incubators.
3/3
3/3
October 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
With Cyclone Alfred threatening a number of nests at the end of February, rescue crews had to move a number of eggs into incubators to keep them safe. The numbers include sea turtles that were released onto beaches after they had hatched in the incubators.
3/3
3/3
The 2024–2025 nesting season produced a record 1,437 hatchlings - 1,313 loggerhead sea turtles and 124 green sea turtles - making their way to the ocean. That’s 561 more than the 2023-2024 season.
2/3
2/3
October 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The 2024–2025 nesting season produced a record 1,437 hatchlings - 1,313 loggerhead sea turtles and 124 green sea turtles - making their way to the ocean. That’s 561 more than the 2023-2024 season.
2/3
2/3
Male spotted ratfish have a little rod featuring seven to eight rows of sharp, retractable teeth sticking out of their heads.
Like actual, real teeth.
Turns out that these toothy rods are used to grab onto a female ghost shark’s pectoral fin during sex so they don’t decouple.
2/2
Like actual, real teeth.
Turns out that these toothy rods are used to grab onto a female ghost shark’s pectoral fin during sex so they don’t decouple.
2/2
October 30, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Male spotted ratfish have a little rod featuring seven to eight rows of sharp, retractable teeth sticking out of their heads.
Like actual, real teeth.
Turns out that these toothy rods are used to grab onto a female ghost shark’s pectoral fin during sex so they don’t decouple.
2/2
Like actual, real teeth.
Turns out that these toothy rods are used to grab onto a female ghost shark’s pectoral fin during sex so they don’t decouple.
2/2