Classification society DNV has published a landmark recommended practice (RP) establishing a standardized framework to measure and verify the performance of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems.
The new guideline, DNV-RP-0698, arrives as the maritime industry searches for immediate decarbonization solutions, providing a critical technical foundation for the scaling of onboard captured carbon technologies.
With roughly 90% of the global operational fleet still entirely dependent on conventional fossil fuels, OCCS is rapidly emerging as a vital transitional pathway. It offers a practical emission-reduction strategy for existing vessels that cannot easily or economically retrofitted to run on low-greenhouse gas fuels.
This industry push is mirrored on the regulatory front, where the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has already initiated development on formal OCCS guidelines, targeted for completion by 2028.
Establishing a Shared Technical Language for Maritime CCS
Built around rigorous mass balance principles, the DNV framework defines a harmonized set of key performance metrics. These include absolute capture rates, the specific quantity of captured CO2, remaining atmospheric emissions, and gross capture efficiency.
Crucially, the framework remains entirely technology-neutral, accommodating pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel, and alternative capture architectures.
To ensure market trust, the RP introduces a structured, third-party verification process. This protocol encompasses comprehensive system documentation, measurement setup evaluation, performance calculations, and strict uncertainty assessments.
Relevant: DNV Verifies Carbon Ridge Onboard Carbon Capture Achieves 98% Capture Rate
According to DNV, establishing this shared technical language is essential for mitigating investment risks early in the design phase.
The initiative highlights a growing reality for the maritime sector: long vessel lifespans mean the existing fleet requires immediate, bolt-on environmental solutions.
By providing a clear methodology to account for the full performance picture, rather than just raw capture volumes, the new practice enables shipyards, manufacturers, and shipowners to make highly informed deployment decisions for both newbuild and retrofit projects worldwide.
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