Effects of a Vessel Speed Reduction Program on Air Quality in Port Areas: Focusing on the Big Three Ports in South Korea

Jiyoung An,Kiyoul Lee,Heedae Park

doi:10.3390/jmse9040407

Abstract

As the seriousness of air pollution from ports and ships is recognized, the Korean Port Authority is implementing many policies and instruments to reduce air pollution in port areas. This study aims to verify the effects of the vessel speed reduction (VSR) program among the procedures related to air pollution in port areas. This study was conducted using panel data created by combining ship entry and departure data and air quality measurement data. We measured the changes in air quality according to the entry and departure of ships and examined whether it changes due to the VSR program. For estimation, the panel fixed-effect model and the ordinary least squares (OLS) model were used. The results suggest that the VSR program had a positive effect on improving air quality in port areas. However, the VSR program’s effects were different over ports. Busan Port showed the highest policy effect, and Incheon Port showed a relatively low policy effect. Based on the results of this study, to maximize the VSR program’s effectiveness at the port, it is necessary to implement other eco-friendly policies as well.

Highlights

The air pollution issue is being taken seriously in the ocean as emissions from ships significantly contribute to air pollution in the nearby areas of ports where ships enter and depart [1,2,3]
The effect of the vessel speed reduction (VSR) program, which is the policy to reduce air pollution in port areas caused by the ship operation, was demonstrated
Previous studies have focused on the effect of the VSR program on reducing emissions from ships directly, whereas this present study focused on the changes in air quality due to the VSR program

Summary

Introduction

The air pollution issue is being taken seriously in the ocean as emissions from ships significantly contribute to air pollution in the nearby areas of ports where ships enter and depart [1,2,3]. When ships stay at a port, they operate various systems, such as cargo handling, refrigeration in the ship, and an airconditioning system, which consume a large amount of fuel, thereby releasing air pollutants continuously. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established the guidelines on ship operations to minimize environmental pollution and regulated countries and shipping companies. The most recently implemented policy is IMO2020, which strengthens the sulfur content standard of ship fuel oil from 3.5% to 0.5% [6]. The operation of ships may be suspended if they do not comply with the IMO regulations [7,8,9]

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Methods

Conclusion