Impact of lowering fuel sulfur content on atmospheric emissions from shipping activities in a World Heritage Bay in Vietnam
2022
Huyen, Truong Thi | Oanh, Nguyen Thi Kim | Huy, Lai Nguyen | Winijkul, Ekbordin | Chi, Nguyen Nhat Ha
Shipping plays important role in passenger and freight transport in Vietnam but also releases large quantity of atmospheric emissions that yet to be comprehensively quantified. This study developed survey-based emissions inventories (EI) for 2015 and 2018 to assess the impact of national regulation on lowering fuel sulfur (S) on the emissions in Ha Long Bay. Activity data were collected by questionnaire survey for domestic vessels and online tracking for international vessels. The 2018 annual emissions, in t y⁻¹, for NOx; SO₂; CO; CO₂; PM₁₀; PM2.5; BC; OC; NMHC, CH₄, and N₂O were 1210; 110; 164; 74,683; 28.5; 26.3; 8.2; 5.2; 57, 1.2 and 3.8, respectively. Lowering S content in fuel used by domestic vessels in 2018 to 0.05% as compared to 0.25% in 2015 reduced emissions of SO₂ by 44% and the particulate species by 19%. Relative contributions of international vessels in 2018 increased to 80% for SO₂ and 40% for every PM species. The domestic passenger vessels remained the main emitters of other gaseous species (71%–73%). Enforcement of strict regulations on S content used by international vessels entering the Bay would further reduce SO₂ and PM emissions. Spatially, higher emission intensities, in kg y ⁻¹ km⁻², were seen along the common routes of domestic passenger and international vessels. Monthly emissions showed peaks coinciding with surge in tourist visits in June, November, and December. The EI results provide input to the development of emission reduction strategies and assessment of associated health effects using dispersion modeling tools.
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