The maritime sector explores onboard carbon capture systems amid fuel uncertainty, with pilot projects and new orders signaling a shift towards emissions
The maritime industry is testing onboard carbon capture systems as uncertainty over future fuels grows, reports London's Riviera Maritime Media.
Pilot projects and newbuild orders suggest that shipowners see the technology as a shortcut to meeting emissions targets.
Norwegian operator Solvang has transformed its ethylene carrier, Clipper Eris, into a floating laboratory, fitted with Wartsila's capture system and onboard CO2 tanks. Chief Executive Edvin Endresen has ordered seven more OCCS-equipped Panamax gas carriers from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for delivery in 2026-27.
British start-up Seabound is trialing calcium looping, a retrofit system that captures up to 95 percent of CO2 and 98 percent of sulfur. Its first full-scale installation was completed in early 2026 on a cement carrier, with captured carbon stored in containers for offloading ashore.
Value Maritime's Filtree system, already fitted on coastal vessels, was installed on Mitsui OSK's Nexus Victoria in Singapore in 2025. MOL stated that the technology is vital for ships that cannot yet switch to next-generation fuels. The Japanese group has also signed charter deals for liquefied CO2 carriers with the Northern Lights project.
Other projects include Hyundai Mipo's CO2 carriers using amine absorption, and Singapore's Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation retrofitting a 14,110-TEU containership. Trials showed capture rates of up to 40 percent, though inefficiencies and lack of waste heat recovery limited savings.
Wartsila estimates its system could capture carbon at EUR50-EUR70 per tonne (US$54-$76). However, hurdles remain, including extra fuel use, storage space, and limited offloading infrastructure. Industry executives believe that onboard capture could bridge the gap until alternative fuels are available at scale.
