On which grounds a decision is taken in waterborne transport technology toreduce air pollution?

Özet

Recent extreme events in Venice lagoon place emphasis on the air quality impact and its relationship with localair emissions production especially waterborne transport. The general concern for the impact of air pollutants onenvironment and human health has led to the introduction of more restrictive regulations (both marine andinland water vessels) and new technologies have been developed. Despite this, some specific scenarios requiredifferent approaches because of their peculiarity. Venice, as a water town, is a very distinctive case wheretransport is supplied by waterborne systems. Local and regional pollution causes high pollutants concentrationsthat can duplicate in correspondence of some lagoon's channels especially for NOx. Causes are not completelystudied yet, but several small boats navigate in small channels and micrometeorology could have a great impact.In this context ACTV S. p.A. in collaboration with the Dep. DAIS, Ca’Foscari University, has developed a projectaimed to assess ACTVfleet emission estimate (actual and future scenarios) using a mathematical model,WATERBUS (now upgraded v. 2.1). Novelty is in the introduction of specific elements generally not listedcausing a misrepresentation of emissions. From results, current situation shows a low percentage impact on totalemissions in Venice (1–5%) at province level, but it increases at municipal one (0–20%). Highest percentagesrefer to NOx. From forecast emission analysis, a new hybrid solution has been evaluated to reduce emissionimpact of 1–3%. Higher decrease could be extended by an intelligent management of the electric motor of hybridpropulsion in the different lines.