1. How AIS Data Can Improve Spatial
Representation of Marine Vessel
Emissions
Richard Billings, Heather Perez, & Jennifer Sellers
ERG
Holli Ensz, BOEM
Noah Beieve, PortVision
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2. • 2000 Breton Emission Inventory
• 2000 Central and Western GOM Inventory
• 2005 Central and Western GOM Inventory
• 2008 Central and Western GOM Inventory
• 2011 Central and Western GOM Inventory
• 2014 Central and Western GOM Inventory
(currently underway)
BOEM GOM Inventories
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3. BOEM GOM Emission Inventories
• Pollutants include:
• Criteria Pollutants
– CO, NOx, VOC, SOx,
– PM10 & PM 2.5
• Greenhouse Gas Pollutants
– CO2, CH4, & N2O
• Hazardous Air Pollutants
– 148 Regulated HAPs
(2014 only)
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4. BOEM Emission Inventories
• Emission sources Include:
– Individual processes on offshore O&G
platforms
– Non-platform Sources
• Marine Vessels
– Seismic survey vessels
– Exploratory drilling
– Support vessels (supply boats & tugs, crew boats,
platform construction)
– Pipe laying vessels
– Commercial ships
– Fishing vessels
– Military ships
– Lightering
– LOOP
• Helicopters
• Biogenic & Geogenic Sources4 / 12

5. Using Automatic Identification System
Data for the GOM Inventory
• Participating vessels transmit signal with identification codes, current
location, destination, direction, speed…
• Match vessels to their characteristics from Classification Society data sets to
get detailed information about vessel type, vessel speed, propulsion engine
power rating, engine speed, cylinder displacement, auxiliary engines…
• Activity can be estimated using the following Equation
A= Epr X LF X Ho
Where: A= Activity (kW-hrs)
Epr = Total Vessel Power Rating ( kW)
LF = Load Factor (fraction)
Ho = hours of operation (hrs)
• Activity can be applied to available emission factors
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6. AIS Issues
• Size and complexity of AIS output
• Coverage gaps in the GOM-VHF signal
extending 25-30 miles from shore
• Data quality issues with static data
elements (e.g., vessel type reported by
AIS often too general or incorrect)
• Transmitters are turned off periodically
• Not all vessels are required to transmit
signals
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7. GOM Tanker Traffic
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8. GOM Bulk Carrier Traffic
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9. GOM Containership Traffic
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10. GOM Offshore O&G Support Traffic
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11. Location of Offshore Platforms
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12. Thanks
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GOADS 2011 study concept, oversight, and funding
were provided by the
U.S. Department of Interior,
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Environmental Studies Program,
Washington, DC under
Contract Number M10PC00084.