Evaluation of Bottom-UP Methodologies in Estimating Atmospheric Emissions from Ships: A Case Study of the Itaguaí-RJ Port Complex

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the two main bottom-up emission estimation methodologies adopted worldwide for preparing vessel emissions inventories, in order to verify their limitations, as well as best practices.   Theoretical framework: This study was conducted based on a bibliographical survey of methodologies adopted to estimate emissions, with the premise being the impact on the environment as a result of maritime transport.   Methodology: The two most adopted methodologies, AP-42 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 2009)  and the European Environment Agency (EEA, 2019), were selected to estimate pollutant and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from vessels during hoteling in the Itagui Port Complex (IPC), from 2017 to 2021.  Additionally, the study evaluates the application of methodologies in constructing an emissions inventory.   Results and conclusion: The results indicate that container ships were identified as the largest sources of pollution by the EEA methodology (2019), unlike the USEPA method (2009), which identifies bulk carriers. Adopting the EEA (2019) methodology, total emissions were higher than USEPA (2009), up to 45 times higher for NOx and 174 times for PM10, while for SO2 it differs by only 26%.   Implications of the research: The study is of fundamental relevance, as choosing the most appropriate methodology for estimating emissions is a crucial step for air quality management and emission mitigation measures.   Originality/value: This research has social, scientific and environmental value carried out with real data, implying originality in the discussions presented.