Non-road fuel consumption and pollutant emissions ... - BAFU - CH

Non-road fuel consumption and pollutant emissions FOEN 2008 92
8.6.2 Emissions
Pollutant emissions from ships and boats have a negative impact on the quality of both
air and water. A significant proportion of emitted hydrocarbons enters into the water,
where they interfere with the normal biological functions of fish and represent a threat
to the quality of drinking water (EMPA 2006). In view of this, special importance has
to be attached to hydrocarbon emissions from ships and boats.
Nitrogen oxide emissions from marine machinery are mainly attributable to passenger
ships and hired or privately owned motor boats (Fig. 47, top). According to the assumptions
used for the calculation model, only a small number of vessels have been
retrofitted with particle filters to date, and this means that PM emissions from passenger
ships and cargo vessels/barges are correspondingly high. Pollutant emissions from
steamships are comparatively low.
Development of pollutant emissions from 1980 to 2020
Nitrogen oxide emissions from ships have barely decreased in recent years. The new
EU exhaust regulations were less stringent than the SAV exhaust standards that entered
into effect in the mid-1990s (Fig. 47, bottom). A notable reduction in nitrogen oxide
emissions can primarily be expected for boats with petrol engines. PM emissions
should also be reduced in the course of the next few years, providing that ships are
retrofitted with particle filter systems (see Fig. 20 on page 45).