Analysis of ships’ performance in port: AIS, experimental campaign, and simulation

The behavior of a passenger ship in a port, concerning power, speed, consumption, and emissions, can be investigated using various methods. To illustrate these different approaches, the outcomes of these three approaches have been compared on a case study of a passenger ship, for which the results of an experimental campaign, a bottom-up method based on AIS data, and the engine simulation results were available. The experimental campaigns were conducted along the vessel’s service routes. For the bottom-up approach, AIS data were processed using a custom MATLAB code to generate a detailed schedule of all in-port operations, and emissions were estimated using a globally recognized methodology based on emission factors. The engine simulation was calibrated using test bench results and validated during sea trials. Comparisons were made across various parameters, including speed, consumption, power, and emissions.