Algorithm for Monitoring Emissions Based on Actual Speed of Ships Participating in the Korean Vessel Speed Reduction Program

The vessel speed reduction program (VSRP) was first introduced in the Port of Los Angeles in 2001 to improve air quality. In this study, an algorithm was developed to calculate ship emissions with a bottom-up approach based on ship activity using automatic identification system (AIS) data. The target vessel applied to the emission calculation was a vessel participating in Korea’s VSRP. Factors considered for the calculation of emissions were ship type, speed, gross tonnage, engine power, load, sulfur content of fuel, and fuel consumption rate by engine age. The algorithm is designed to calculate the reduction amount by VSRP by simultaneously calculating the emission amount of the actual speed and the emission amount of the cruise speed when not participating in VSRP. The emission results of ships that participated in the VSRP in 2020 revealed that their speed was reduced by 47% and carbon dioxide emissions by 71.9%. These results were verified through comparison with the fuel consumption report of the container fleet presented by the International Maritime Organization. Our findings can be used to monitor the air pollutant emissions of ships entering major ports in Korea and to develop policies envisaged at reducing the production and effect of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Moreover, we recommend that this model be replicated in other countries for monitoring ship-induced emissions.