Building the I/SVOC Emission Inventory for Ocean-Going Ships: A Case Study on the Southeast Coast of China

Xing Chang, Yue Li (), Yonglin Zhang, Mingjun Li, Xiaowen Yang, Quansheng Huang, Yuanyuan Song, Rui Wu, Jie Liu and Youkai Xing
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Xing Chang: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Yue Li: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Yonglin Zhang: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Mingjun Li: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Xiaowen Yang: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Quansheng Huang: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Yuanyuan Song: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Rui Wu: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Jie Liu: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China
Youkai Xing: Laboratory of Transport Pollution Control and Monitoring Technology, Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100028, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Controlling air pollution from sea-going vessels is crucial to the sustainable development of maritime transportation. However, emissions of intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs), an emerging aerosol precursor, remain poorly understood. This study developed a ship-type-, fuel-, and operating-mode-specific IVOC emission factor dataset based on existing real-world vessel measurements, and a ship-call-based IVOC inventory methodology tailored for regulatory applications. We quantified IVOC emissions from sea-going ships (excluding fishing and military vessels) entering or departing from the ports in the Economic Zone on the West Coast of the Taiwan Straits in 2014. The total IVOC emissions were 481.4 ± 220.0 t, with Xiamen Port contributing the highest share. Cargo and passenger ships accounted for 65% and 21% of emissions, respectively. While switching to low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur fuels increased IVOC emissions by 87% and 49% compared to high-sulfur fuels, the greater reductions in particulate matter and SO 2 emissions still yielded net environmental benefits. The ship IVOC emissions might have become more important in recent years due to enhanced port activity and fuel switching. Uncertainty analysis emphasizes the urgent need for IVOC emission testing on more vessel types. By providing a high-resolution profile of IVOC emissions from selected ports, this study underscores the urgency of adopting shore power and zero-emission vessels to mitigate organic aerosol pollution and offers a foundation for refining environmental impact assessments and efficient emission control policies to achieve sustainability in maritime transportation.

Keywords: sustainable maritime transportation; ocean-going vessels; emission inventory; intermediate volatility compounds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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