China has achieved a milestone in maritime decarbonization with the first-ever installation of a centrifugal onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) on a 57,000 dwt bulk carrier.
The vessel, Yue Dian 56, underwent the retrofit in mid-September at Longshan Shipyard in Zhoushan. The project marks both the nation’s initial commercial use of such a system and a pivotal step toward cutting emissions from its shipping sector.
Headway Technology Group, the Chinese marine equipment supplier behind the installation, led the initiative in partnership with several organizations.
These included the Zhoushan Free Trade Zone Administration, Guangdong Energy Group, CHN Energy’s New Energy Technology Research Institute, Longshan Shipyard, and the China Classification Society’s Shanghai Rules & Research Institute.
Integrating Capture And Utilization
The Headway OCCS combines multiple functions: CO2 absorption and desorption, liquefaction, and storage – using centrifugal separation technology alongside CHN Energy’s GNX-3 absorber.
According to the company, the system can capture over 90% of emissions with a purity exceeding 99.6%, while also reducing energy use compared to conventional gravity-based scrubbers.
Beyond capture, Headway has outlined plans to create a full carbon utilization cycle. Liquid CO2 collected onboard will be transferred at Zhoushan’s pilot port following established handling guidelines.
From there, the CO2 will support sustainable fuel production projects, including hydrogen generation, solid-state hydrogen storage, and synthesis of methanol and ammonia. This closed-loop approach is designed to extract long-term value from captured carbon.
Relevant: Babcock LGE Wins Lloyd’s Register Approval For Onboard Carbon Capture System
Headway has been expanding into the alternative fuels space in recent years, signing a cooperation agreement in 2024 with CEEC Hydrogen Energy to explore opportunities in methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen technologies.
The adoption of OCCS in China aligns with growing international momentum. At a recent International Maritime Organization seminar, experts emphasized the role of onboard carbon capture as a practical interim solution while the industry transitions to scalable alternative fuels.
Still, significant hurdles remain before widespread deployment. Costs linked to fuel penalties, solvent replacement, maintenance, and offloading services must be addressed, alongside the challenge of building sufficient port infrastructure worldwide to handle liquid CO2.
Read more: Samsung Heavy Successfully Tests Onboard Carbon Capture System On Cargo Ship
