Shore-side power supply of ships as a possibile solution to the environmental pollution in the harbours

The environmental problem in land activity created a big alarm especially close to very inhabited zones; in the marine field, after a very long period of stand by, the problem is felt mainly in the big water cities where, close to the harbours, a heavy microclimate exposes people who live nearby to risks of serious damages for their health. As well known, one of the main causes of air pollution in the harbours is the contemporaneous presence of many ships producing large amounts of noxious substances. In this paper, therefore, after a concise analysis of the electric power demand of ships while at berth, a particular attention is paid to the problem of the environmental impact of marine engines with considerations on the present rules and on evaluations about the air pollution in port areas also by means of experimental data drawn out during a full scale test campaign carried out in the harbour of Naples in the period March – April 2012. Then some aspects of the shore-side power supply of these ships (also called “cold ironing”) are presented. Cold ironing claims to be an efficient solution to the reduction of air pollution in port areas since the on board diesel electric generators can be switched off and no exhausts are delivered during ship stay. Anyway, as a real industrial standard solution for cold ironing is not available yet, it seemed appropriate to focus on some technical and economic aspects which are at the basis of any cold ironing project, and also on a series of possible interventions in port areas, all feasible at the present stage of the technology, able to match objectives of both energy savings and air pollution reduction.