Estimation of Air Pollutant Emissions and Analysis of Reduction Effects at Incheon Port

As global awareness of air pollution issues caused by ports increases, international organizations and developed countries are monitoring pollution levels and establishing various eco-friendly policies to reduce emissions. Domestically, the relevant laws were enacted in 2020 to systematically manage the sources of port pollutants in the five major ports. This study aims to estimate the emissions of air pollutants generated by Incheon Port and analyze the effects of major eco-friendly policies such as Emission Control Areas (ECA), Vehicle Speed Reduction (VSR), and Alternative Maritime Power (AMP). For the year 2023, activity data for all ships, cargo handling equipment, and vehicles were collected, applying methodologies from reputable institutions such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to national guidelines, air pollutants are categorized into eight types: CO, NOx, SOx, TSP, PM10, PM2.5, VOC, and NH3. The analysis revealed that the total emissions of air pollutants from Incheon Port were approximately 6,362 tons, with ships accounting for over 60% of the total emissions. Among the pollutants, NOx was the highest at 4,597.4 tons, followed by CO at 862.4 tons, and TSP at 314.6 tons. Among the ports, emissions were highest at the New Port, followed by the South Port, Inner Port, and North Port. The results of this study provide essential baseline data for monitoring the air pollution levels of Incheon Port and serve as critical evidence for environmental management and policy development. For sustainable future management, it is crucial to secure reliable data and develop a platform that links data collection, analysis, and visualization functions for more systematic operation.