17 Abstract 
18 This work presents a methodology to identify the fuel sulphur content (FSC) violations of 
19 ongoing vessels, using CFD RANS modelling by implementing the SST k-omega turbulence 
20 parameterization to predict the CO2 and SO concentrations of plume dispersion. Gaseous 
pollutants measurements and meteorological data from a ship emission monitoring station in the 
approach to the port of Hamburg, Germany, have been used for the evaluation of the methodology. 
Gaseous pollutants concentration, meteorology, identity, and position of passing ships (AIS signal) 
are the main parameters of the modelling approach. Five ships have been selected to demonstrate 
and evaluate the method developed. The vessels had different installed power, geometry, and fuel 
sulphur content. A virtual monitoring station is created for collecting concentration data from the 
simulated plume and producing concentration time-series. The comparison between modelling and 
measurements is being performed with integrated numerical values that were produced from the 
concentration time-series. Modelling, in comparison to measurements for all case studies, provides 
results for CO2 and SO» that are in the same order of magnitude, which constitutes the main 
criterion of validity. In the methodology, the uncertainties are separated into three categories. The 
first one is related to ambient conditions such as turbulence and temperature profiles. The second 
concerns ships’ funnel exit characteristics considering the estimation of funnel exit concentration 
and exhaust mass flow. The third considers the uncertainties that are related to measurements. All 
details above were used to produce expressions considering the relationship between the FSC and 
SO2 measuring instruments. The outcome of this work can contribute in finding optimum 
monitoring location and in estimating plume dispersion close to the water level, e.g. for studying 
pollutants exchange in the air-water interface. 
Keywords 
40 shipping emissions, modelling, gas dispersion, OpenFOAM, CFD, RANS, gaseous 
41 pollutants measurements, validation, methodology, FSC, violations identification 
42 Highlights 
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418 
Identification of the fuel sulphur content violations of ongoing vessels using CFD 
Detailed modelling of vessel plume dispersion using high-resolution RANS CFD 
Comparison of simulated concentrations 150-450 m downwind with measurements 
Contribution to optimum positioning of emission monitoring stations 
® Shipping plume dispersion close to the air-water interface 
Abbreviations 
ABL | Atmospheric Boundary Layer 
ABU American Bureau of Shipping 
AE Auxiliary Engines 
AFR (-) Air-to-Fuel Ratio