TAGRA 2024

This study focuses on the estimation of emissions produced by pilot boats operating in the ports of Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, and Hopa, located in Turkey's Eastern Black Sea region, over the course of 2023. Pilot boats play a critical role in ensuring the safe navigation, docking, and undocking of vessels within port boundaries, making their operational activities a significant component of port-related emissions. The Emission Factor Methodology, a standardized approach widely recognized in maritime emission studies, was utilized to perform the calculations. The methodology involves key parameters such as engine power (converted to kilowatts), annual activity hours, engine load factors, emission factors specific to marine engines (g/kW-hr), and fuel correction factors that account for the properties of fuel used by pilot boats. To ensure accuracy, the annual operating hours of pilot boats at each port were meticulously recorded and analyzed. The movement patterns of these vessels within port waters, which include routine maneuvers for guiding larger ships, were also integrated into the assessment. The results provide a detailed quantification of total emissions, including major pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter (PM), emitted by pilot boat operations. This study highlights the environmental impact of pilot boat activities and underlines their contribution to the overall emission footprint of port operations in the region. The findings offer valuable data for policymakers and port authorities, enabling the development of strategies to mitigate emissions, promote cleaner technologies, and improve the environmental sustainability of maritime activities in the Eastern Black Sea ports.