The Carbon Capture on the Ocean (CC-Ocean) project, the first-of-its-kind ship-based carbon capture system to successfully be tested on an actual voyage, won the Marine Engineering of the Year 2021 (Doko Memorial) Award from the Japan Institute of Marine Engineering (JIME).
The award is given for exceptional technical achievements in marine engines and equipment, offshore instruments, and marine engineering. The prize highlights innovation in Japan and across the globe and aims to aid further progress in science and industrial technology.
Relevant: Using LNG Ships Might Bring Down Carbon Capture Costs
The Carbon Capture on the Ocean (CC-Ocean) project is a joint initiative between Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), and ClassNK and features the conversion of an existing carbon capture solution for onshore power facilities to a marine context.
The system was installed onboard the coal carrier Corona Utility, owned by Tohoku Electric Power Co. and operated by “K” Line. The demonstration testing began in August 2021 and lasted for six months. With a purity of over 99.9%, the captured carbon was in line with the initial plan.
The project is proof of the viability of capturing carbon dioxide from the flue gas of naval engines on ships, where conditions are different from those on earth.
ClassNK evaluated and verified the project’s safety. The learnings from this project will be used to set appropriate standards for CO2 capture technologies to bring down greenhouse gas emissions from sea vessels.
Global shipping emissions rose 4.9% in 2021 and were higher than in 2019, as reported by Simpson, Spence & Young. The International Maritime Organization has committed to decrease ships’ carbon intensity by 40% by the end of the decade amid criticism that the industry is failing to meet global climate change targets.
Read more: All Ships Must Meet New Energy Requirements By 2023
