Evaluating the emission reduction efficiency of automatic mooring system and cold ironing: the case of a port in Izmit Bay

ABSTRACT Maritime transportation contributes to air pollution, which adversely affects life on Earth. Ship-borne emissions, especially in port areas, threaten public health. This study evaluated the emission reduction rates when Automatic Mooring System (AMS) and Cold Ironing (CI) methods were applied separately, and together at a port in Izmit Bay. We used Entec and EPA methodologies to estimate ship-borne emissions. As a result, when only the AMS was used as a reduction method instead of the current situation, in which no reduction method is used, the emission reduction rates of CO2, NOx, PM, and SO2 were 3.58%, 3.55%, 11.19% and 3.45%, whereas these rates were 21.21%, 88.85%, 47.17% and 2.33% respectively when only the CI was used. Additionally, when both systems were applied together, emission reduction rates increased to 24.79% for CO2, 92.40% for NOx, 58.37% for PM, and 5.78% for SO2.