The Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP) has been developed by RightShip in partnership with The Australian Marine Environment Protection Association (AUSMEPA) following the win of a AUS$250,000 Google Impact grant in 2016.
Roger Johnston, CEO, Pilbara Ports Authority said working with RightShip to develop the MEP had provided a clear insight into the port’s marine emissions profile.
“Early indications are that the MEP will be a useful tool for both port authorities and port operators to better understand shipping emissions and therefore consider management opportunities to address these emissions in balance with land-based sources,” he said.
Successful pilot
In developing the portal, RightShip worked with the Pilbara Ports Authority in a pilot programme which will now be extended to PPA’s other ports within the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Combining Automatic Identification System (AIS) movement data and RightShip’s unique vessel insight data, the MEP estimates ship-sourced emissions at specific ports and provides heatmap indications of hotspots and opportunities to reduce environmental impact.
Using industry best practice guidelines from groups including the US EPA, California Air Resources Board and the International Maritime Organisation, the tool is the first of its kind and can monitor all vessel types including ocean-going vessels, OSVs, and tugboats; as well as all operating modes: anchorage, transiting, manoeuvring and hotelling.
With the successful pilot programme now completed and the tool available for commercial use, RightShip is inviting new port partners to use the tool and assess their emissions profiles.
RightShip offers an end-to-end customer support process in which interested port authorities can subscribe to the tool and work with RightShip to review its emissions reduction strategy.