UNEP collaborated with Centro Mario Molina Center Chile to support the Port of Valparaíso quantify the baseline air emissions inventory in order to assist in the development of strategies for reducing particulate matter and black carbon emissions from port operations.
Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso (Valparaíso Port Authority) manages and operates the Port of Valparaíso, as well as assets inherent to port sector related activities and indispensable to proper compliance. Valparaíso Port Authority maintains five concession contracts with major companies to operate parts of the port under the guidance the administration of Valparaíso Port Authority.
To kick off the project, Centro Mario Molina Center Chile held several planning meetings with port stakeholders including the Secretary of Environmental Ministry in Valparaíso Region, representatives of the Captain of the Port of Valparaíso and the Valparaíso Port Company as well as employees responsible for Competitiveness and Port Marketing at the Valparaíso Port Authority. The purpose of these meetings was to share on project goals/objectives, get port authority buy-in and input as well as to obtain data required to conduct a baseline air emissions inventory.
A preliminary report of the baseline air emissions inventory conducted using United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology (Current Methodologies in Preparing Mobile Source Port-Related Emission Inventories - 2009) was released in October 2015 (click here). In early, 2016 the draft baseline air emissions inventory was presented to Valparaíso Port Authority as well as key policymakers for review/comment, and to identify strategies for long term particulate emissions reductions at Port of Valparaíso incorporating international best practices (Draft Action Plan).
Proposed Strategies for Reducing Particulate Emissions and Black Carbon in The Port of Valparaíso.
The Air Emissions Inventory of Air Pollutants at the Port of Valparaiso estimated that operations at the Port of Valparaíso resulted in approximately 65 tons of particulate matter emissions per year. The most significant sources of particulate emissions were ocean going vessels, with approximately 46.8 tons per year, followed by cargo handling equipment with 15.2 tons per year.
Conversely, cargo handling equipment were seen to emit more oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions than ocen goin vessels with approximately 331 and 282 tons per year, respectively.
The 2006 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) for San Pedro Bay, Los Angeles and Long Beach was identified by policymakers as a desirable reference for evaluating strategies for reducing air pollutant emissions from the Port of Valparaíso considering economic conditions and operating-resources. Several measures from this plan were evaluated and discussed for the Port of Valparaíso.
A change was proposed for Port regulations regarding the requirements for vehicles entering the port, i.e. mandating clean technology carriers with Euro V or VI technology. Since such a measure is not within the powers of the port administration, it was proposed as an alternative that the port control entrance to the facility to verify compliance with existing national standards.
The port administration raised the alternative of working directly with the transport companies to establish incentives to renew their vehicle fleet. The same work can be done with the businesses who are responsible for their merchandise from start to finish.
Valparaíso Port Authority evaluated mandating the speed of ocean going vessels coming in to port as well as specifying the use of cleaner fuels within harbor. Slowing down ships approximately 20 to 40 nautical miles from port has been shown to have a very large reduction potential for particulate emissions.
The port administration observed that while these are viable measures, they must be established by the maritime authority under whose jurisdiction the waters fall. It was proposed to use terrestrial energy for ship operations while docked as an alternative to lower emissions but it was not clear if the state would be able to invest in terrestrial energy sources.
Electrification of cargo handling equipment was also proposed.
