Eastern Pacific installs first-of-its-kind carbon capture solution onboard MR tanker

Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has announced the successful installation of Value Maritime’s Filtree system onboard its managed vessel Pacific Cobalt in Rotterdam. The Filtree system, which filters sulphur and 99% of particulate matter, includes Value Maritime’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) module that can capture up to 40% of CO2 emissions from the vessel’s main and auxiliary engines.

The CO2 is captured in a special chemical that is stored in an onboard tank that during the retrofit has been recoated and converted for this purpose. The tank now provides sufficient storage space to capture more than 200 tonnes of CO2 in a single voyage. Once the tank is full, the chemical will be pumped out in port and delivered to end users, such as greenhouses or synthetic fuel producers, who will be able to release the CO2 on demand. The CO2 can also be placed into carbon sequestration networks. The chemical will then be returned to the vessel for reuse and to capture more CO2.

EPS CEO Cyril Ducau stated, “2023 marks a critical year for the shipping industry. For us to hit IMO 2050 and net zero targets, we need to start moving the needle significantly now. To ensure that we are able to make a significant difference, we have been developing a portfolio of solutions across various vessel types. Advanced decarbonisation technology, like the CCS system from Value Maritime, offers a concrete solution that can be implemented on existing vessels. The result is an immediate carbon emission reduction while removing the need to wait for the development and rationalisation of alternative green fuel infrastructure.”

The installation of the prefabricated gas filtering system commenced in mid-January 2023 in Rotterdam. It took 17 days to complete.

A host of other shipping lines are now gearing up to install carbon capture and storage equipment on ships around the world.