Headway deploys China’s first centrifugal OCCS with closed-loop carbon value chain

Qingdao-based maritime technology firm Headway Technology Group (Headway) on Tuesday (23 September) announced the successful installation of its groundbreaking Onboard Carbon Capture System (OCCS) aboard the 57,000 DWT bulk carrier Yue Dian 56 at Longshan Shipyard, Zhoushan, China. 

This milestone marked the first deployment of centrifugal OCCS in China, delivering unmatched efficiency and a compact design to advance maritime decarbonisation.

This landmark project, a collaborative effort led by Headway Technology Group, the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Administration Committee, Guangdong Energy Group, Zhoushan Longshan Shipyard, CHN Energy New Energy Technology Research Institute, while the China Classification Society Shanghai Rules and Research Institute sets a new standard for onboard carbon capture. 

It represents the first commercial application of centrifugal carbon capture technology globally, offering a competitive and scalable solution for the maritime industry.

The OceanGuard® OCCS, independently developed, designed, and manufactured by Headway, integrates advanced carbon absorption & desorption, liquefaction, and liquid CO₂ (LCO₂) storage capabilities. Leveraging Headway’s featured high-speed centrifugal carbon capture technology and the GNX-3 high-performance absorber from CHN Energy New Energy Technology Research Institute, the system achieves a carbon capture rate exceeding 90% with CO₂ purity of at least 99.6%. 

By replacing conventional gravity-based scrubbers with a centrifugal force field, the OCCS significantly enhances contact efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and enables a compact, easily integrated design that simplifies installation and CO₂ transportation.

To maximise the value of captured CO₂, Headway has partnered with the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Administration Committee and the China Classification Society to establish a closed-loop carbon value chain. Captured LCO₂, handled in accordance with the latest Guidelines for Shipboard Liquid Carbon Dioxide Loading and Unloading Operations, will be transported by dedicated LCO₂ carriers to Zhoushan’s pilot port. 

There, Headway will utilise the CO₂ in its innovative sustainable fuel synthesis projects, incorporating advanced AEM hydrogen generation and solid-state hydrogen storage technologies to produce hydrogen, to synthesis sustainable methanol and ammonia. This integrated approach creates a closed-loop green lifecycle for carbon.

Photo credit: Headway Technology Group
Published: 24 September, 2025