Assessing emissions from ship plumes in three French harbours: a glimpse at the PIRATE (Port Inventories ReAl TimE) project

authors

• Riffault Véronique
• D’anna Barbara
• Roustan Yelva
• Landry Clara
• Cesano Mara
• Armengaud Alexandre
• Yoo Jiye
• Lee Yongchan
• Lee Heekwan

document type

abstract

1.Context The impact of maritime transport on air quality and climate change is a critical area of research. Ships emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx, and particulate matter (PM), contributing to both global and local pollution. While the overall contribution of maritime transport to pollution is relatively low compared to the volume of goods and passengers moved, its impact is particularly pronounced in port areas and coastal cities. 2.Methodology Three field campaigns of at least one month each were conducted in three French harbours: Toulon (Mediterranean Sea, Sept. 2021), Dunkirk (North Sea, Sept. 2022 and Sept.-Oct. 2023), and Le Havre (English Channel, Apr.-May 2023). Regional air quality monitoring networks measured regulated pollutant concentrations during each campaign. Additional state-of-the-art instruments were deployed in Dunkirk’s 1st campaign (focusing on particulate chemical/physical properties and VOCs), and Le Havre (primarily VOCs). The Port Air Quality management system (PAQman©) tracked ship movements in harbor areas throughout the campaigns. 3.Results and discussion PAQman© tracked vessels in real-time, generating emission maps using dynamic and static data. Field measurements identified periods of ship emission influence to validate modelling, aiding in understanding ship contribution to urban air pollution in port cities, which is crucial for developing effective pollution mitigation strategies.

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