South Korean shipping major HMM plans to conduct field tests of an onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) for containerships along with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and PANASIA in the second half of this year.
HMM Nuri; Image credit HMM
OCCS is an advanced technology to capture CO2 from greenhouse gas emissions generated during vessel operation, ensuring it is not emitted into the atmosphere. This solution has the potential to play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions in the medium term, especially for the existing fleet.
The captured CO2 can then be stored and either reused or safely disposed of.
It can be implemented relatively quickly and without significant changes to existing shipping infrastructure, helping bridge the gap between current emissions levels and the ultimate goal of zero-emission shipping. It is generally less expensive than alternative measures such as switching to alternative fuels or electrification. That being said, the business case for OCCS is yet being explored as there are relatively few companies with mature solutions on the market.
