Safetytech Accelerator trials show strong potential to cut methane emissions in shipping

Safetytech Accelerator on Tuesday (21 January) said it has successfully completed three technology feasibility studies as part of its flagship Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII). 

The studies were done in collaboration with Chevron, Carnival Corporation, Shell and Seapeak.

The results of these feasibility studies showed strong potential to cut fugitive methane emissions in the maritime industry.

MAMII is exploring options to advance these research projects to on-ship trials as soon as possible. 

While methane slip – unburnt methane released during the combustion process – remains the largest source of methane emissions on ships, emissions across the LNG supply chain, from loading to engine delivery, are also a concern. 

These fugitive emissions are often unintended and short-lived, but identifying, quantifying, and mitigating them is essential to achieving industry-wide decarbonization goals.  

Xplorobot, Sorama and framergy were selected by MAMII to help address the vital need to detect, measure and capture fugitive methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships.

Each provider selected for the trials brings expertise in a different technology, including: 

• Xplorobot: Provides a handheld device and AI-powered platform to detect and measure fugitive methane on ships using computer vision to pinpoint leak locations, overlay real-time emission rate data, and integrate seamlessly with existing systems for quick issue resolution without requiring specialised training. 
• Sorama: Develops acoustic cameras that detect fugitive gas by visualizing sound and vibration fields in 3D. Integrated AI and onboard software identify anomalies and classify sounds, enabling direct leak localization without complex analysis. 
• framergy: Specialises  in adsorbents and catalysts for methane emission management. Their product, AYRSORB™ F250GII, captures and stores fugitive methane by selectively filtering methane from the air, leveraging its ultra-high surface area and coordination chemistry. 

Feasibility Study Results Show Promise For Methane Abatement 

Xplorobot conducted a detailed evaluation of their Methane Compliance Solution, focusing on its efficacy in detecting and quantifying methane emissions on LNG carriers and LNG-powered vessels. 

The study targeted emissions from the warm side of the gas fuel line and both planned and unplanned venting events. Utilising comparable on-land data, this desktop analysis assessed how the technology would perform in maritime settings. 

The technology demonstrated accuracy levels of +/-30% for emissions over 500 grams per hour and +/-50% for emissions between 100 and 500 grams per hour, thanks to a refined neural network algorithm calibrated through controlled release experiments. Xplorobot’s solution promises to reduce inspection time dramatically with the ability to inspect 50 to 100 components in under an hour—sometimes as quickly as 10 minutes. 

This efficiency, combined with automated digital emission tracking and compliance reporting, make the solution cost-effective. The next step is to deploy the kit in the field to further validate and optimise the technology for widespread adoption across the maritime industry.  

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 22 January, 2025