Development of an Original Integrated Framework for Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Vessel Operations in Nigerian Waters

Life cycle assessment provides a comprehensive methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of products and processes across their full life from construction through operation to end of life, and its application to vessel operations in Nigerian waters remains unexplored in the academic literature. This study develops an original integrated life cycle assessment framework adapted to the specific operational, fuel supply, and end-of-life conditions characterising vessel operations in Nigerian waters. The research employs an environmental engineering and industrial ecology methodology, developing a life cycle inventory database for vessel operations using primary data from operational records of thirty vessels representing five major vessel type categories operating in Nigerian waters. Life cycle impact assessment is conducted using the ReCiPe methodology, covering climate change, particulate matter formation, marine eutrophication, water consumption, and human toxicity impact categories. The original framework contribution lies in three novel adaptations of standard life cycle assessment methodology to the Nigerian context: a domestic fuel supply chain module quantifying upstream emissions from the Nigerian petroleum refining and distribution system, a tropical oxidative degradation adjustment for antifouling coating biocide release rates, and a local end-of-life dismantling impact module based on field data from Nigerian ship recycling sites. Application of the framework reveals that end-of-life impacts constitute a disproportionately large share of total life cycle toxicity impacts for vessels recycled at informal yards, compared to the global average from certified recycling facilities. Keywords: life cycle assessment, vessel operations, environmental impact, Nigerian waters, ship recycling