As the shipping industry approaches the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 targets, it must achieve a minimum 20% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on 2008 levels. This urgency has spurred the rapid development of innovative clean technologies, particularly onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems. While OCCS technology is technically feasible, significant infrastructure challenges hinder its integration into a circular carbon economy.
OCCS technology has emerged as a promising solution for reducing ship emissions, employing methods such as oxyfuel combustion, pre-combustion capture, and post-combustion capture. Since the early 2020s, initiatives like Value Maritime’s installation of OCCS on the container ship Nordica and the EverLoNG project have showcased its potential. Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has played a pivotal role in facilitating the safe integration of these systems by providing approvals and establishing classification rules for OCCS equipment.
Despite advancements, barriers to widespread adoption remain, including a lack of regulatory recognition from the IMO and uncertainty regarding the most effective technology pathways. Effective decarbonization requires not just capture but also a cohesive carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) value chain. Shipping is crucial in this chain, as liquid CO2 carriers transport captured carbon. However, gaps in infrastructure and utilization pathways hinder progress, necessitating innovative solutions like reverse bunkering to link onboard capture with storage facilities.
