A System Dynamics Model for CO<sub>2</sub> Mitigation Strategies at a Container Seaport: Fid-Bau Portal

A System Dynamics Model for CO₂ Mitigation Strategies at a Container Seaport

Yuliya Mamatok / Yingyi Huang / Chun Jin / Xingqun Cheng

With the rapid development of the container shipping industry, the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from container seaport activities have become an urgent problem. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate dynamic problems in mitigation strategies at a container seaport. As a result, a system dynamics model for CO₂ mitigation strategies at a container seaport was established. Three methods were combined to construct the system dynamics model: the activity-based method to estimate CO₂ emissions; the representation of a container seaport as a system with several sub-systems; the system dynamics modeling for strategic decision-making in CO₂ mitigation strategies. The key model component was the amount of CO₂ emissions produced by container seaport activities. The other components represented container seaport operations and the main spots of CO₂ concentration at berth, yard, gates, and region areas. Several CO₂ mitigation strategies were included in the model to be simulated. The real case of Qingdao Port in China was used to simulate the scenarios of the current situation with CO₂ emission amounts and the increasing container throughput. The other scenarios demonstrate the effects from CO₂ mitigation strategies, such as operating time optimization, spatial measures, equipment modernization, and modal shift. The obtained results enable container seaport executives to evaluate which mitigation scenario is more effective for every container seaport area. The system dynamics model serves as a useful decision-making mechanism providing flexibility and variability in strategic planning.