A System Dynamics Model for CO2 Mitigation Strategies at a Container Seaport

With the rapid development of the container shipping industry, the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) 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 CO2 mitigation strategies at a container seaport was established. Three methods were combined to construct the system dynamics model: the activity-based method to estimate CO2 emissions; the representation of a container seaport as a system with several sub-systems; the system dynamics modeling for strategic decision-making in CO2 mitigation strategies. The key model component was the amount of CO2 emissions produced by container seaport activities. The other components represented container seaport operations and the main spots of CO2 concentration at berth, yard, gates, and region areas. Several CO2 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 CO2 emission amounts and the increasing container throughput. The other scenarios demonstrate the effects from CO2 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.