Exploring the effectiveness of ECA policies in reducing pollutant emissions from merchant ships in Shanghai port waters

Kun Shi; Jinxian Weng; Guorong Li

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111164

Exploring the effectiveness of ECA policies in reducing pollutant emissions from merchant ships in Shanghai port waters

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Jun:155:111164. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111164. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Authors

Kun Shi¹, Jinxian Weng², Guorong Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China.
² College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: jxweng@shmtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32310101
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111164

Abstract

Using the AIS data in 2017, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of five ECA policies on pollutant emissions from merchant ships in Shanghai Port waters. Results show that the estimated annual emissions from merchant ships including cargo ships, container ships and tankers are 3.4029 × 10⁴ tons for NO_x, 2.1037 × 10⁴ tons for SO₂, 2.291 × 10³ tons for PM_2.5, and 2.921 × 10³ tons for PM₁₀ in 2017, respectively. Impact analysis results highlight the fact that effects of each ECA policy vary significantly among different merchant ship types and different water areas. The amount of pollutant emissions from cargo ships (e.g., SO₂ and PM_2.5) is most affected by the ECA policy. However, the NO_x emissions are not significantly changed under different ECA policies. Results also show that future ECA policies could cause a much greater decrease of pollutant emissions in water areas of Yangshan and Wusong.

Keywords: Emission control area; Merchant ships; Policy; Ship emission.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
China
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Pollutants*
Ships
Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Environmental Pollutants
Vehicle Emissions