The potential of onboard carbon capture on ships

Page date: Published 9 Dec 2024; updated 30 Sep 2026. 3 min read.

The article describes onboard carbon capture (OCC) as separating CO2 from a ship’s exhaust, compressing or liquefying it, storing it onboard and offloading it at ports with suitable infrastructure. It notes that capture does not replace electrification or renewable fuels, and that shipboard systems require energy and can increase fuel consumption.

Capture methods discussed include chemical absorption with amines (effective but energy intensive), membrane separation (described as less energy intensive but early in marine development) and cryogenic separation (effective but with high energy demand). The page emphasizes that OCC requires coordination with ports for unloading, transport and permanent storage or utilization, and that systems need technical and regulatory evaluation before commercial viability.

The article identifies Technology Centre Mongstad as a test facility and says carbon capture may become more common in shipping over time, possibly standard by mid-century. This is the article’s forecast, not an established deployment trajectory. Related links: Energy; CCUS; Maritime; Technology Centre Mongstad; IMO’s 2050 net-zero target.