Natural gas as a fuel alternative for sustainable domestic passenger shipping in Greece.

Greece by virtue of its coastal and especially its insular character holds a leading position in Europe with regard to domestic passenger shipping. Consequently, the high exhaust emissions of the fleet engaged in this activity have to be controlled in a sustainable manner for this sector and the society in general. In an attempt to promote the research towards the control of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in Greece, this paper examines the use of natural gas as a ‘cleaner’ fuel alternative to heavy and light fuel oils for domestic passenger shipping, focusing on its impact on air quality and climate change expressed through the external (damage) cost comparison between the two types of fuel. Furthermore, it highlights other critical parameters (e.g. private costs, bunkering and safety issues) which are bound to influence the fuel change from oil to natural gas in this sector of shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]