Seoul-based owner HMM is getting ready to trial an onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) for container ships.
The shipping company said operational field tests will be carried out on one of its vessels in the second half of this year, with its partners Samsung Heavy Industries and equipment supplier Panasia.
HMM said it had been studying the technology since agreeing to a cooperation deal with Panasia in September last year.
Describing the system as “advanced”, the owner said CO2 from greenhouse gas emissions generated during vessel operations will be prevented from entering the atmosphere.
“This solution has the potential to play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions,” HMM said.
Work with Panasia demonstrated that OCCS could be installed without changing the existing equipment of the ship and without hindering the stability of vessel operations.
The collected carbon becomes liquefied in a pressurised tank and can be used for manufacturing dry ice or for farming, HMM said.
HMM will take charge of the operation of OCCS during the test, while its partners will provide engineering support.
The South Korean company has also decided to replace the propellers of six container ships, with more efficient ones specially designed for slow steaming.
The replacement process will start in 2024. HMM expects to increase energy efficiency by between 8% and 9%.
An HMM spokesperson said: “We will continue ... efforts on a pathway to carbon neutrality by 2050 based on collaborative work with various industrial players.”
The group is working with Swiss producer Proman on methanol fuelling solutions for its ships, and is already using or considering using biofuels, LNG, hydrogen and green ammonia.
