IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i9p3822-d1641052.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Monitoring Strategy of Air Pollution Emission from Ships in Urban Port Areas Based on Supervisory Game Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Ching-Kuei Kao

    (Key Laboratory of LNG Industry Chain, School of Transportation, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China)

  • Dao-Lin Zheng

    (Department of Logistics Management, School of Transportation, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China)

Abstract

In response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 sulfur cap and China’s stricter emission control policies, this study investigates the strategic interaction between port authorities and shipowners concerning air pollution emissions from ships in port areas. Using supervisory game theory, we construct a model that captures the cost–benefit trade-offs between inspection efforts by regulators and compliance behavior by ship operators. Empirical data from Guangzhou Port in 2020—including government inspection costs, fuel substitution costs, subsidy schemes, and fine levels—are incorporated into the model to simulate equilibrium outcomes. Results indicate that while the current level of inspection has a significant deterrent effect, the probability of full compliance remains low at 34.36%, highlighting the importance of a balanced regulatory approach combining inspection, fines, and subsidies. Policy implications suggest that increased financial incentives and stronger penalties can reduce both regulatory costs and non-compliance risks. This study contributes to the literature on maritime environmental governance by providing a quantitative supervisory framework grounded in real-world port data.

Suggested Citation

  • Ching-Kuei Kao & Dao-Lin Zheng, 2025. "Monitoring Strategy of Air Pollution Emission from Ships in Urban Port Areas Based on Supervisory Game Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3822-:d:1641052
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3822/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3822/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mingjing Guo & Ziyu Jiang & Yan Bu & Jinhua Cheng, 2019. "Supporting Sustainable Development of Water Resources: A Social Welfare Maximization Game Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Theodoros C. Zannis & John S. Katsanis & Georgios P. Christopoulos & Elias A. Yfantis & Roussos G. Papagiannakis & Efthimios G. Pariotis & Dimitrios C. Rakopoulos & Constantine D. Rakopoulos & Athanas, 2022. "Marine Exhaust Gas Treatment Systems for Compliance with the IMO 2020 Global Sulfur Cap and Tier III NO x Limits: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-49, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rakopoulos, Dimitrios C. & Rakopoulos, Constantine D. & Kosmadakis, George M. & Mavropoulos, George C., 2024. "Assessing the cyclic variability of combustion and NO emissions in hydrogen-methane fueled HSSI engine via quasi-dimensional modeling under the influence of flame-kernel turbulence and equivalence rat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    2. Rakopoulos, Constantine D. & Rakopoulos, Dimitrios C. & Kosmadakis, George M. & Zannis, Theodoros C. & Kyritsis, Dimitrios C., 2023. "Studying the cyclic variability (CCV) of performance and NO and CO emissions in a methane-run high-speed SI engine via quasi-dimensional turbulent combustion modeling and two CCV influencing mechanism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3822-:d:1641052. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.