Depending on the type of fuels used by ships in maritime port operations, emissions may contribute more or less to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The maneuvering of ships at maritime ports uses mainly auxiliary engines, resulting in a significant contribution to emissions. It is understandable that the energy transition in this sector brings benefits and is essential to sustainability, considering its economic and strategic importance. Among the measures established to ensure this transition is the onshore power supply and increased electrification in transportation operations. Maritime ports are not yet prepared for these adjustments, as their heterogeneity and contexts require further research, such as studying the impact of depth on energy consumption, terminal type, and others. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achievable through the implementation of an onshore power supply at the Port of Sines, Portugal. Furthermore, it aims to identify the key factors influencing these adoptions to provide practical recommendations that can guide in advancing energy transition, reducing reliance on fuels, and fostering a sustainable future for the port industry.

Calculating the energy consumption and carbon footprint is essential for maritime industry sustainability, driving informed decisions and innovation. This study assesses the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the Port of Sines in Portugal to support its decarbonization and energy transition, based on the scopes defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The proposed calculation model is detailed using different data sources for the 2018–2022 period. For each terminal, the monthly and annual energy consumption and carbon footprint are calculated, considering land and maritime activities into the port jurisdiction area. The results show that more than 99% of the port’s total energy consumption and carbon footprint are due to the operations and activities of the different terminals. On average, the Port of Sines consumes 422,378.45 MWh/year and has a carbon footprint of 224.63185 tCO₂eq/year. The analysis reveals a non-linear relationship between energy and carbon footprint, due to the different port activities, emphasizing the need for tailored decarbonization strategies for each terminal.

Maritime transport contributes 2.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, traditionally evaluated through operational fuel cycles while neglecting lifecycle impacts. This study redefines merchant ship recycling as a strategic front-end pillar for global decarbonization by assessing Embodied Carbon Trade-offs. Utilizing a mixed PRISMA systematic and semi-systematic methodology of literature from 2019–2025, we analyzed bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers across six thematic clusters. Our findings demonstrate that scenarios involving the potential decommissioning of up to 22.2% of the global merchant fleet exceeding 20 years of age could significantly mitigate lifecycle emissions by displacing primary iron-ore smelting with circular electric arc furnace marine-steel recovery. Crucially, this environmental dividend is non-linear and bound by regional energy matrices; under deeply decarbonized grids, this technological displacement can theoretically yield an upper-bound 72% emissions reduction, whereas fossil-heavy power supplies significantly diminish net mitigation margins. Practically, this research provides an operational roadmap for shipowners and regulators navigating the Hong Kong Convention and carbon border mechanisms. This work concludes that sustainable shipbreaking has the potential to function as an economically viable, strategic reservoir of low-carbon raw materials essential for achieving international net-zero targets throughout the entire shipping structural lifecycle.

Maritime transport supports 80% of global trade but contributes 2

The global transition toward a low-carbon economy has accelerated the adoption of renewable energy sources. This paper presents the development of a model-based electronic Decision Support System for renewable energy planning, incorporating energy storage and carbon footprint assessment. The tool assists stakeholders in the preliminary evaluation of local wind and solar resources. To validate the model’s credibility, a comparative analysis was conducted, using the Port of Sines, Portugal, as an industrial case study. Solar energy estimations were benchmarked against PVSyst, while wind energy simulations were compared with an INEGI technical study. Results indicate consistency in solar estimates, with maximum deviations of 14% for fixed installations and 13% for vertical barriers, primarily due to terrain orography that was not yet integrated into the algorithm. Regarding wind energy, deviations reached 19% to 25%, largely resulting from the use of aggregated mean values in the reference data and generic turbine models. Overall, this work contributes to energy engineering by formalizing a validated workflow that facilitates early-stage sizing and strategic investment decisions under conditions of data scarcity. The tool proves effective for rapid screening of promising investment options while maintaining a balance between computational complexity and practical usability.

The maritime transport sector is vital for global trade, yet it continues to be a significant source of air pollution in port cities due to its reliance on fossil fuels. This review summarizes empirical and epidemiological evidence on the emissions of Heavy Fuel Oil and transitional alternatives, such as Liquefied Natural Gas, with a focus on their contribution to local concentrations. Shipping-related emissions account for a substantial proportion of air pollution across multiple coastal urban regions, particularly during maneuvering and hoteling operations. The reviewed studies consistently associate these emissions with an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and premature mortality among populations living near ports. While sulphur-focused regulations, notably IMO 2020, have achieved significant reductions in SO₂ emissions, the literature indicates that nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter remain largely unmitigated. This review concludes that existing regulatory frameworks only partially address the health-related externalities of maritime transport. To address this market failure, the review argues for an integrated policy approach that combines market-based measures with port-level incentives and operational controls to reduce emissions at berth, thereby aligning shipping practices with public health objectives and the sustainable development goals.