Estimation of atmospheric emissions from ships in the port of Barranquilla

Abstract

In recent years, maritime activity has been identified as an important source of emission of atmospheric pollutants, of which the high impact on the environment and human health has been verified, mainly in port cities. The emissions generated depend mainly on the ship's operating mode (Hotelling, Maneuvers and Cruising) and the quality of the fuel used. In this sense, the lack of studies in the Colombian territory is worrying, even more so when it does not have control mechanisms due to null legislation on environmental emissions for these sources. Given this absence, this work seeks to generate quantitative information through the estimation of emissions of: SO2, NOx, Particulate Material (PM10, PM2.5), Hydrocarbons (HC), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), CO, CO2, CH4, and N2O, using the “Bottom up” methodology for Container, Bulk and General Cargo vessels arriving at the Barranquilla Fluvial Terminal throughout the year 2018, in order to make a preliminary diagnosis of the current situation of the port. For the study year, it was observed that a total of 651 motor ships arrived, of which they were determined as total emissions: 4583.18 tons of NOx, 1417.34 tons of SO2, 182.52 tons of PM10, 179.42 tons of PM2.5, 87.10 ton of HC, 155.84 ton of Volatile Organic Compounds other than Methane (MNVOC), 136.19 ton of CO, 105 677.85 ton of CO2, 0.77 ton of CH4 and 4.95 ton of N2O.