Lloyd’s Register Assigns First Shipboard Carbon Capture Class Notation

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has made maritime history by assigning its first class notation for carbon capture onboard a ship.

The Pacific Cobalt, a 50,000 dwt mid-range chemical carrier owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), has been retrofitted with Value Maritime’s prefabricated Onboard Carbon Capture & Storage (OCCS) system.

The upgrade, which was completed in February 2023, marks a significant step toward reducing maritime exhaust emissions.

The Emission Abatement Carbon Capture & Storage (EACCS) (Amine, HFO) class notation provides assurance that safety risks associated with the OCCS installation have been mitigated and that the solution is both effective and reliable. The notation addresses various safety aspects, including materials, structure, containment, and vessel integration.

Value Maritime’s Filtree OCCS system can remove and capture up to 40% of CO2 from the vessel’s main and auxiliary engines, storing it onboard. The storage tank is large enough to capture more than 200 tonnes of CO2 in a single voyage. 

The technology is seen as a viable short- to mid-term solution for achieving IMO emission reduction targets.

“This class notation for an OCCS is the first for Lloyd’s Register and the first for a vessel of this size,” said Nick Brown, LR CEO. “Eastern Pacific Shipping is a pioneer in onboard CCS and this installation demonstrates its commitment to reducing emissions in its operations in line with IMO ambitions.”

The Filtree System combines SOx exhaust cleaning with CO2 capture, removing 99.9% of sulphur oxide and 99% of particulate matter from exhaust gas. The captured CO2 is stored onboard and offloaded during port calls.

The development represents a significant advancement in sustainable shipping technology, with the Pacific Cobalt being one of three EPS MR tankers refitted with the CCS system.

“Pacific Cobalt’s retrofit with Value Maritime’s exhaust cleaning and Carbon Capture System was an important milestone in EPS’s sustainable shipping journey,” said Cyril Ducau, CEO of Eastern Pacific Shipping.

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