• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.905-917
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• 2021

Atmospheric pollutant emissions, mainly exhaust gas emissions from vessels, and the resultant social costs of pollution in the Korean harbor cities of Incheon, Mokpo, Gwangyang, Busan and Ulsan, are examined in this study, and the need for an emissions reduction plan is highlighted. Busan had several vessels entering its port, while Mokpo had few vessels, yet the vessels emission contribution was high in both the cities. Ulsan had world-class heavy-chemical industries, Gwangyang had steel mills and Incheon had a manufacturing industry and more vessels entering its port than Mokpo, yet the emission contribution was low in these cities. By calculating exhaust gas emissions from the vessels, it was found that CO₂ was the highest, followed by NOx and SOx. By vessel type, Busan, Ulsan, and Incheon had more oil tank vessels, Gwangyang had more cargo vessels, and Mokpo had more ferries. As a result of social cost, Busan paid the highest, while the highest emission was PM. The use of low-sulfur oil can directly reduce PM and, SOx emissions and indirectly reduce NOx emissions. However, in order to reduce high CO₂ emissions, only low-sulfur oil will not help. Therefore, the study suggested the need for reduction plan that use of fossil fuels, by using alternative maritime power (AMP).