A System Dynamics Model for CO 2 Mitigation Strategies at a Container Seaport

Yuliya Mamatok, Yingyi Huang, Chun Jin and Xingqun Cheng
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Yuliya Mamatok: Business School, Quanzhou Normal University, 398 DonghaiRoad, Quanzhou 362000, China
Yingyi Huang: Business School, Quanzhou Normal University, 398 DonghaiRoad, Quanzhou 362000, China
Chun Jin: Faculty of Management and Economics, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China
Xingqun Cheng: Faculty of Management and Economics, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: With the rapid development of the container shipping industry, the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from container seaport activities have become an urgent problem. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate dynamic problems in mitigation strategies at a container seaport. As a result, a system dynamics model for CO 2 mitigation strategies at a container seaport was established. Three methods were combined to construct the system dynamics model: the activity-based method to estimate CO 2 emissions; the representation of a container seaport as a system with several sub-systems; the system dynamics modeling for strategic decision-making in CO 2 mitigation strategies. The key model component was the amount of CO 2 emissions produced by container seaport activities. The other components represented container seaport operations and the main spots of CO 2 concentration at berth, yard, gates, and region areas. Several CO 2 mitigation strategies were included in the model to be simulated. The real case of Qingdao Port in China was used to simulate the scenarios of the current situation with CO 2 emission amounts and the increasing container throughput. The other scenarios demonstrate the effects from CO 2 mitigation strategies, such as operating time optimization, spatial measures, equipment modernization, and modal shift. The obtained results enable container seaport executives to evaluate which mitigation scenario is more effective for every container seaport area. The system dynamics model serves as a useful decision-making mechanism providing flexibility and variability in strategic planning.

Keywords: system dynamics; container seaport; carbon dioxide emissions; mitigation strategies; scenarios simulation; decision-making mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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