journal article·2025-08-30Open access

Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships Visiting European Ports

Petar Georgiev, Yordan Garbatov, Angel Angelov

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 17

Abstract

This study analyzes greenhouse gas emissions from ships visiting European ports between 2020 and 2023, utilizing data from the EU Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (EU-MRV) system. It examines the impact of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation on four types of ships during this period. It discusses updates to MARPOL Annex VI, including the Global Fuel Standard (GFS) designed to reduce emissions. A line contour method is employed to estimate emissions, focusing on tankers, bulk carriers, general cargo ships, and container ships while adhering to European regulations. This method models operational variables such as deadweight and ship age to categorize vessels based on their energy efficiency. For ships visiting European ports in 2023, the FuelEU regulation limit is set at GHGlimit, EU2020 = 91.16 gCO2eq/MJ, indicating that general cargo ships are the most energy-efficient type, while bulk carriers are the least efficient. According to IMO regulations, the limit is GHGlimit, IMO2008 = 93.3 gCO2eq/MJ, meaning all ships fully comply with their respective limits. The study utilizes real data, and the contour approach has played a crucial role in evaluating greenhouse gas emissions, representing a significant advancement in the methodology, modeling, and analysis of a ship’s energy efficiency.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency · Vehicle emissions and performance · Maritime Navigation and Safety

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Technical University of Varna, Studentska Str. 1, 9010 Varna, Bulgaria

Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal

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