Air pollutants emissions estimate from maritime traffic in the italian harbours of Venice and Piombino

The paper originates from the realization of local air pollutants emissions inventories and introduces a methodology to estimate air pollutants emissions from maritime traffic in harbours. It is based upon the knowledge of local maritime traffic features and of some specific parameters of the ships involved, like specific fuel consumption and gross tonnage. In this way it is possible to calculate shipsʹ fuel consumption and, consequently, air pollutants emissions inside the harbour for each of the two main phases which characterize ships activity inside it: manoeuvres and berthing. This methodology is applied to the harbours of Piombino and Venice. Results show the large differences between emissions inside each harbour and the major role in determining emissions played by the kind of maritime traffic inside the harbour rather than the number of ships going in and out. This conclusion is also supported by matching our results with similar ones arising from applications in other countries. Moreover, the results outline the non-secondary role played by each of the two harbours on local basis, and the necessity to dedicate them the same attention required by the main local industrial sources, especially regarding Venice harbour because of its potential impact on lagoon environment.