Assessing the Environmental Benefits of Dry Port Usage: A Case of Inland Container Transport in Turkey

Kurtulus Kurtulus,Cetin Cetin

doi:10.3390/su11236793

Kurtulus Kurtulus, Cetin Cetin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236793

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Abstract

Inland transportation of maritime freight conducted by trucks creates extensive emissions. These emissions can be mitigated by using intermodal-rail transport through dry ports. In that regard, this study evaluated the environmental benefits of dry port usage by using discrete event simulation modelling. The results show that the current level of dry port-based intermodal transportation decreases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5.79% compared to transportation of all containers on the road. Evaluating the impact of the electrified railway line on the GHG emissions revealed unexpected results; the electrification of the railway line would decrease GHG emissions only by 0.06%. The improvements in empty container movement and scheduling slightly reduced GHG emissions by 0.69% and 0.63% respectively, however, highest GHG emissions reduction resulted from modal shift by 6.56%. This study extended the previous literature by assessing not only the environmental benefits of dry port usage but also its effects on train capacity usage, while taking the empty container movement into account.

Highlights

Demand for container transportation has risen enormously since the 1960s
In the second scenario, we evaluated the impact of a modal shift towards the dry port usage on train capacity usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Our results show that the usage of the rail-based dry port results in lesser GHG emissions compared to road transport, confirming the findings of previous research that investigated the impacts of dry port usage [7,9,12,25]

Summary

Introduction

Demand for container transportation has risen enormously since the 1960s. This increasing demand for container transportation further contributes to the negative environmental impacts. It was estimated that freight transportation activities accounted for approximately 43% of the total energy used by transport activities [1]. Logistics activities account for approximately 5.5% of global emissions, wherein 9%–10% of these emissions originate from buildings used for logistics activities and the remaining are ascribed to freight transportation [2]. The emissions caused by freight transport will account for 15%–30% of global emissions by 2050 [3]. Maritime freight is carried by ships only between seaports, beyond seaports, inland transportation of maritime freight must be conducted by trucks, increasing resulting emissions

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