Current Status of Air Pollutants from Ships and Reduction Technologies

There is a lot of concern around the world about air pollution from ships. The majority of air pollution from ships comes from fuel combustion. The combustion process produces various air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM), each of which has adverse effects on people and is a major environmental problem. To prevent this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strengthened the regulation of pollutant emissions through the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution. This paper discusses the types of air pollutants emitted by ships, their current status, and the latest technologies to reduce emissions of NOx and SOx.