Japanese operator K Line is claiming a world first with the installation of a carbon capture system on a bulk carrier as part of its CC-Ocean project carried out jointly with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

K LINE has been conducting the joint project with Mitsubishi and Class NK to develop CO2 capture plant onboard vessel as part of the “Research and Development for advancing marine resources technologies”.

The small CO2 capture plant was installed on the coal carrier Corona Utility, operated by K Line for Tohoku Electric Power at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Yokohama Works. For the installation of the plant, Class NK conducted a Hazard Identification Study (HAZID) and verified the viewpoint of safety.

After departure of the vessel from MHI Yokohama, experts from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will be on board the vessel for one voyage to commission the small CO2 capture plant, evaluate its operation performance at sea, and analyse the captured CO2. After that, until the end of FY 2021, the ship’s crew will evaluate the operation, safety and operability of the CO2 capture plant, and will conduct demonstration tests in order to commercialise the plant such as downsizing in size and weight, efficiency of CO2 capture system with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

Based on the K LINE Environmental Vision 2050, the shipowner will continue to research, develop, and introduce various environmental load reduction technologies, including the “CC-OCEAN” project, and contribute to activities aimed at achieving GHG reduction targets and realising a carbon-neutral society.