Unproductive Berth Time at Tanjung Emas Port Semarang Generates 6.4 Tonnes of Avoidable Carbon Emissions

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FORMOSA NEWS

SEMARANG – Unproductive waiting time for ships at port berths causes not only commercial losses for maritime logistics but also serves as a major source of air pollution in coastal areas. A 2026 scientific study conducted by researchers from Banten Maritime Polytechnic reveals that vessels calling at Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang produce approximately 6.4 tonnes of avoidable carbon dioxide emissions per call during idle berthing periods. This finding is critical as it proves that port operational productivity can function directly as a zero-capital-cost mechanism for greenhouse gas abatement.

Most maritime environmental regulations historically focus on fuel quality standards, such as mandatory limits on fuel sulphur content. However, fuel quality rules only alter the chemical composition of exhaust gases without reducing the overall volume of fuel burned. While vessels remain berthed alongside piers waiting for cargo handling to commence, their onboard auxiliary engines continue running around the clock to generate electricity for shipboard operations and crew accommodation.

In this study, researchers evaluated five vessels operating at Tanjung Emas Port, including a general cargo ship, two chemical tankers, and two container ships. The team applied an activity-based bottom-up calculation method to determine fuel consumption based on engine ratings, load factors, operating durations, and specific fuel consumption metrics. These inputs were converted into pollutant mass estimates covering carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, total suspended particulates, sulphur dioxide, and carbon dioxide.

These emission inventories were subsequently integrated with official port performance statistics. The data reveals that out of an average total berthing time of 79.89 hours per vessel call, 20.03 hours are classified as Not Operational Time. This unproductive period is caused primarily by shore-side operational bottlenecks, such as cargo handling equipment unavailability and dockworker labor scheduling delays.

The primary research findings indicate that 89 percent of total ship carbon dioxide emissions occur while vessels are berthed alongside piers, far exceeding the emissions generated during harbour manoeuvring. Auxiliary engines account for 37 to 47 percent of total hourly emissions. Over the 20.03 hours of idle berthing time, these continuously running auxiliary engines release an average of 6.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per vessel call, an amount that could be entirely eliminated through operational scheduling reform.

The implications of these findings offer transformative insights for port operators, logistics businesses, and environmental policymakers. Berth productivity must now be evaluated as an environmental performance metric rather than strictly a commercial indicator. By enhancing equipment reliability and optimizing dockworker shift scheduling, port authorities can reduce idle vessel waiting times and instantly eliminate thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions annually without requiring capital expenditure.

Operational reform provides an immediate, low-cost abatement pathway that complements future shore-side electricity installations. Furthermore, reducing ship exhaust emissions at Tanjung Emas Port delivers direct public health benefits to residential communities living in the coastal urban areas of Semarang who are exposed to maritime air pollution.

This research was conducted by Akhmad Ndori, Adhi Pratistha Silen, Hari Sunanto, and Sahar Saleh from Banten Maritime Polytechnic.

Author Profile: Akhmad Ndori, Adhi Pratistha Silen, Hari Sunanto, and Sahar Saleh (Banten Maritime Polytechnic).

Research Source: 

Article Title: Emissions of Waiting: Quantifying Avoidable CO2 from Unproductive Berth Time at Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang 

Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4, No. 9, 2026, pp. 2091-2106 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i9.151 

Journal Link: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr