Quantitative impact of decarbonization options on air pollutants from different ship types

Shipping emits Greenhouse Gases (GHG), contributing to climate change and various air pollutants, posing risks on human health. To address GHG, maritime has responded with increasingly stringent legislations, including recent commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Substantial investments have been made in cutting-edge technologies, alternative fuels and operational strategies ensuring emissions regulations compliance. This paper aims to quantitatively evaluate the emission performance of diverse decarbonization options, focusing on assessing their potential to mitigate GHG and addressing air pollutants. Our analysis utilizes a new set of load-dependent Emission Factors and employs Automatic Identification System data for 5 ship classes. While operational measures moderately reduce emissions, fuel shift to alternatives and on-board carbon capture and storage offer a more promising pathway towards decarbonization and air pollutants reduction. The outcomes intend to provide insights into the effectiveness of measures in reducing external costs, while serving as a valuable resource for regulatory authorities.