DETERMINATION OF MINIMUM EMISSION ROUTE IN MARITIME TRANSPORTATION

Shipping runs the major part of world trading with a ratio of over 90 %. The great carrying capacity of ships makes them an indispensable elements of transportation of goods. In addition to economical concern, ships are very important actors for pleasure and military purposes. Due to their great benefits, shipping activities are responsible for considerable amount of emissions and wastes in various forms such as solid, liquid and gaseous. Most of the air emissions are produced during the operation phase. It is estimated that there 450 different types of emissions to air due to the internal combustion process in ship engines’. The most important emissions are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), oxides of sulfur (SO x ), volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and particulate matter (PM). Due to the nonignorable, positive and proved harmful effects of these emissions to global warming, all alternative reducing techniques must be considered. In this study, two sister ships, which use the same route, are compared in terms of emission production to air. Four scenarios are designed. In first and second scenarios, both ships use the same route, separately. In third scenario, Ship A brings the load to an intermediate port at which Ship B takes over the load. The fourth scenario is vice versa. Thus, the optimum way to carry the load is determined in terms of emissions.