Measuring and reducing emissions in coastal areas using recreational boats
Decarbonizing maritime transport has become a global priority, driven in particular by the IMO’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and by regional initiatives such as the European Green Deal.
The establishment of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) aims to reduce CO₂, NOx, and SOx emissions in order to protect the health of coastal populations and improve air and marine environmental quality. From 2025 onwards, five ECA areas will be affected: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, North America, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
However, operational and continuous monitoring of atmospheric emissions and ocean acidification remains limited. Existing solutions are costly and complex to deploy in coastal areas, and satellite data alone is not sufficient to replace reliable in situ measurements.
Oceano Vox offers an innovative approach that complements traditional observation methods, using recreational vessels as “ships of opportunity” to collect environmental data in coastal areas and ECA zones.
The project is part of a participatory science initiative aimed at deploying smart environmental sensors on a large scale.
The project aims to study the feasibility of a sensor for monitoring greenhouse gases, including SO2 and NO2, in line with regulatory changes by the IMO.
To test the sensor in real-world conditions, Oceano Vox partnered with the Beneteau Group, a major player in recreational boating. Initial tests were carried out on a Lagoon.
