OCCS could help shipping bridge green fuel shortfall, ICS says
The report identified LNG carriers and large tankers as among the strongest candidates for early adoption due to their operational profiles and available space.
IMAGE: CO2 icon symbol. Getty Images.
Onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) could help shipowners comply with tightening emissions regulations while green fuel availability remains limited, according to a new report from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
The report, Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage Review, found that OCCS is one of the few near-term technologies capable of delivering significant tank-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions reductions on vessels expected to operate on conventional and transition fuels through the 2030s.
"It will be some years before the availability of the green fuels matches demand, and in the meantime, OCCS has the potential to make a significant contribution to shipping's decarbonisation," ICS Technical Director Chris Waddington said.
According to the report, OCCS has already been demonstrated at sea across multiple ship types and technology pathways.
Amine-based carbon capture systems are currently the most mature option for maritime use, capable of capturing around 70-95% of carbon dioxide emissions and producing a high-purity CO2 stream suitable for utilisation or permanent storage.
However, large-scale deployment will depend on overcoming challenges related to vessel integration, carbon reception infrastructure, and regulatory certainty.
Space and weight requirements remain a major obstacle, particularly for retrofits. The report noted that liquid CO2 storage tanks can occupy substantial onboard space, especially on longer voyages requiring larger storage volumes.
Shore-side infrastructure will also be critical. While end-to-end demonstrations covering onboard capture, transfer, and utilisation of captured carbon have been completed, port reception facilities remain limited, and CO2 quality requirements vary between projects.
ICS said regulatory clarity is another key requirement. The report noted that the EU ETS currently offers the clearest compliance incentive, while FuelEU Maritime has yet to finalise methodologies for crediting OCCS.
Similarly, current IMO measures do not yet provide defined mechanisms for recognising emissions reductions achieved through onboard carbon capture.
ICS concluded that OCCS could scale towards the end of the decade if infrastructure, storage pathways, and emissions accounting frameworks develop in parallel.
By Gautamee Hazarika
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