A comparative CO₂ emissions analysis and mitigation strategies of short-sea shipping and road transport in the Marmara Region

The Marmara is the most highly trafficked region in Turkey in terms of seaway and highway transport congestion. The transport mode-based CO₂ emissions budget for the region needs to take more environmentally friendly measures. In this study, 13 ro-ro and ferry lines (RFLs) are evaluated in the Sea of Marmara to compare ship-generated CO₂ emissions with road transport as if the carried vehicles had used the highway instead of transport by RFL. Additionally, this study revealed the management strategies for CO₂ emissions reduction for both transport modes under current conditions. The total CO₂ emissions budget of 13 RFLs in the Sea of Marmara is higher than the potential CO₂ emissions of their carried vehicles. Using the methods of Entec UK Ltd and Trozzi and Vaccaro, the amount of CO₂ emissions generated by the RFLs is 204,470.99 and 170,459.85 t/year, respectively. The potential CO₂ emissions of road vehicles carried in 2017, 2018 and 2019 are computed by applying Tier 1 methods as 121,690.54, 106,844.89, and 100,921.95 t/year, respectively. It is observed that shifting trucks from the highway to the seaway contributes to a reduction of the yearly CO₂ emissions budget generated from the transport sector to provide sustainable transportation management in the region.