Estimating pollutant emissions in ports

Maritime transportation constitutes an important factor within transport systems, as in today's globalized world large amounts of goods need to be transferred worldwide more frequently than ever. Intense maritime flows also mean intense maritime emissions, mainly CAC and GHG with consequences on people's health and global warming. International organizations like IMO have already started to intervene in order to manage globally the emission problem, introducing restrictions and creating protected marine areas. Ports are a source of pollution, mainly due to berthed ships and inland vehicles and facilities producing pollution due to engines burning fossil fuels. Port emissions can be estimated thanks to networks of interconnected sensors and with mathematical simulation models. Current technologies to manage emissions include devices such scrubbers and cold ironing, along with the adoption of carbon capture, green fuels, electric engines, renewable energies, and energy management approaches. Investments on port infrastructure require costs not always affordable especially for smaller port authorities. Research could lead studies in this sense to make these technologies more available and affordable to move towards a better world.