World’s first ship with full-scale onboard CCS system ready for pilot testing

Norwegian-headquartered shipping firm Solvang on Thursday (16 January) said the world’s first ship with a full-scale carbon capture facility is ready for pilot testing. 

The firm said the hope is that the technology will become a milestone for the world’s trading fleet on route to zero emissions.

“Onboard carbon capture combined with existing cleaning technology is a significant shortcut to decarbonisation of the world’s deep-sea fleet. This stands out as one of the more promising solutions for future vessels”, says Edvin Endresen, CEO of Solvang ASA. 

The ship Clipper Eris – owned by Solvang ASA – is the first to be installed with technology for Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS). With OCCS, the exhaust is cleaned, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 70%, before it is stored in deck tanks for discharge to sequestration or usage.

This pilot project is a collaboration effort between Solvang, technology provider Wärtsilä, MAN Energy Solutions, and the research institute SINTEF. Solvang has seven new vessels under construction, all designed and ready for installation of OCCS technology.  

“The introduction of carbon capture and storage capabilities on board the Clipper Eris is a major leap forward for maritime sustainability. It represents a system change that has been made possible by close collaboration between our companies,” said Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine.

“We at Wärtsilä are proud to be helping shape the decarbonization of the marine industry, and we congratulate Solvang for their vision and support in making this breakthrough possible.”

Over the past few months, Clipper Eris has been in dry dock for a full retrofit. Equipped with the new OCCS technology, it is now ready for far stricter environmental requirements in the future. The project team was in Singapore on 16 January to present the project, and the vessel will leave the docks at Seatrium admiralty yard early February for pilot testing.

Endresen pointed out two key factors for succeeding with OCCS technology in shipping: Infrastructure and global regulations.  

“CO2 can be recycled and used in land-based industries, but the global infrastructure for discharge for shipping needs to be developed fast. In addition, IMO must implement global regulations with benefits and penalty schemes for achieving the set goals. Predictability is necessary for the industry to invest in solutions for reducing CO2 emissions,” said Endresen.

Photo credit: Solvang
Published: 20 January, 2025