The environmental impact of cruise ships in the port of Naples: analysis of the pollution level and possible solutions

The case study of the port of Naples is developed with particular regard to the exhaust emissions from the cruise ships which frequently berth in Neapolitan bollards, keeping most of their engines on in order to produce the electric energy needed for the auxiliary services onboard. In fact, the contemporaneous presence of four or five cruise ships may create a very dangerous environment, especially for people living close to the harbour. In the frame of a research program which involves the CNR Istituto Motori and the University of Naples “Federico II”, tests on the quality of the air were recently done; first results of this research are reported together with the analysis of the possible solutions to the problem. In this phase, the most important components of pollutants were analyzed: NOx and SO2.