Modeling study reveals that optimized vessel scheduling cuts annual emissions by up to 1.8 million tonnes in the Panama Canal, suggesting intermediate chokepoints bypass key contractual barriers.
In this study, we investigate the impact on shipping emissions from improving operational efficiency in a maritime chokepoint such as a canal. We consider several scheduling proposals that allow for different levels of speed reduction for incoming vessels and estimate the resulting emission reduction compared to a benchmark established from ship position data. For our case study of the Panama Canal, we estimate that the canal could have removed up to 1.8 million tonnes of CO2e per year for the period of 2019 to 2021. Our findings suggest that emission reduction can be easier to obtain at intermediate points as many of the contractual barriers to improving operational efficiency do not apply.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Fuentes et al. (2023) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: