INVESTIGATION THE EFFECT OF SOx EMISSION REDUCTION ON TRANSIT SHIPS EMISSIONS AS OF JANUARY 1, 2020

Abstract

The Istanbul Strait is one of the choke points in the international maritime trade. 44868 ships have passed through the Istanbul Strait in the last two years. These merchant ships are emitting exhaust gas emissions such as CO2, NOx, SOx intensively. These pollutants also affect human health and the environment. There is a consensus among scientists that ambient concentrations of particulate matter and SOx have negative health impacts, including asthma, heart attacks, hospital admissions, and premature mortality. In this study, the exhaust gas emissions from ships are estimated based on real ship movements, and analyses are made according to the reduction from 3.5-0.5% of the allowed sulphur content of the fuel was implemented on January 1, 2020. Firstly, Annex four which is containing the regulations imposed by the International Maritime Organization was examined, and also SOx emission which is caused by ships passing through the Istanbul Strait was investigated. Also, a new approach to Trozzi and Vaccaro methodology was built. After, emission projections for 2030 and 2040 were made and the rate of SOx and particulate matter were analysed.