Results of an ongoing emissions research study by a team from the Emissions Research and Measurement Section, Air Quality Research Division, will be used by Environment Canada policy groups to compare with emissions factors currently used for vessels operating in the Great Lakes and in the northern shipping routes. This research effort supports the Energy and Transportation Directorate’s marine exhaust emissions program, as well as Canadian and U.S. efforts to establish Emission Control Areas in North American coastal waters, and the International Maritime Organization’s regulatory program for marine vessels.

This phase of the study took place aboard a cargo vessel delivering equipment and supplies to the Arctic region. Exhaust from the main engine and an auxiliary generator engine were sampled for gaseous and particulate matter emissions, including detailed characterization for greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, trace metals, and more.  Specialized instruments were used to look at black carbon emissions and particle number concentrations.  During testing, the main engine was operated on Intermediate Fuel Oil with two different sulphur concentrations, and the auxiliary engine was operated on low-sulphur marine diesel fuel.

Contact: Mark McCurdy, 613-998-9590, Mark.McCurdy@ec.gc.ca, Emissions Research and Measurement Section, Air Quality Research