Remote Estimation of Sulfur Content in Fuel from SO 2 and CO 2 Quantification of Ship Exhaust Plumes

Sulfur oxide (SOx) from seagoing ships contribute to local air pollution in cities and coastal areas around the world. Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions in particular, are a precursor to acid rain and atmospheric particulates leading to ocean acidification which can contribute to negative human health outcomes2. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) defines limits on the sulfur content in ship fuel oils, since the sulfur is ultimately released into the atmosphere through the ship’s exhaust system as sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ). This application note describes the use of remote hyperspectral imaging data collected using the Telops Hyper-Cam along with signal processing techniques to provide rapid and accurate estimation of sulfur content in fuel oils. Comparison between the retrieved sulfur content in the fuel of several ships with data from bunker delivery notes provided by the ship’s owner and in situ measurements performed by Transport Canada are presented.