Why Carbon Capture Could Be Shipping’s Best Bet for Cutting Emissions—Without Ditching Fossil Fuels

By Paul Morgan —

As the maritime industry grapples with the dual challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining economic viability, the extensive use of carbon capture technology (CCT) and specialized fuel additives offers a practical solution to prolong the use of fossil fuels.

The approach provides an economically feasible and technologically accessible method for reducing reliance on alternative marine fuels—such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol—which remain expensive and pose certain risks. Moreover, until nuclear power becomes commercially viable for widespread use in shipping and other energy-intensive sectors, fossil fuels combined with CCT, advanced additives, and fuel homogenizers offer a pragmatic bridge solution.

Onboard Carbon Capture: The Future of Shipping Decarbonization?

CCT captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion before they can enter the atmosphere. On ships, this technology, while novel, has the potential to capture up to 90% of CO2 emissions from marine engines and onboard power systems. By sequestering this carbon underground or repurposing it for industrial uses (carbon recycling), CCT enables maritime operations to continue relying on fossil fuels while significantly reducing their environmental impact.

A key advantage of CCT is its ability to be integrated into existing marine infrastructure, making it less disruptive and more cost-effective in the short to medium term than a full transition to alternative fuels. While the current cost of deploying CCT is high, technological advancements and scaling will likely improve its economic feasibility. As global regulations tighten around maritime carbon emissions—such as through the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) initiatives and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)—the financial incentives for adopting carbon capture will become even stronger.

While carbon capture alone cannot entirely eliminate the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption, it provides the maritime industry with more time to transition gradually to alternative energy sources. For shipping and port operations, which rely heavily on fossil fuels, CCT can serve as a critical tool in meeting immediate emissions targets.

Fuel additives, emulsion fuels, and fuel homogenizer technologies present another opportunity to extend the viability of fossil fuels in the shipping sector. High-quality marine fuel additives can enhance combustion efficiency, significantly reducing particulate matter (PM) and harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx). Water-in-fuel emulsions, in particular, have proven highly effective at lowering NOx emissions—reducing them by up to 50%. By introducing water into the fuel mixture, combustion temperatures are reduced, which inhibits the formation of NOx, one of the most hazardous pollutants in global shipping.

Similarly, advanced marine fuel additives can cut particulate matter emissions by improving the combustion process, decreasing incomplete combustion. These additives have shown the potential to reduce PM emissions by up to 50%, offering significant improvements in air quality, particularly in coastal regions where shipping activities operate near densely populated areas.

Combining CCT with fuel additives creates a synergistic effect that allows shipping companies to continue using fossil fuels while greatly reducing their environmental footprint. The ability to lower both CO2 emissions and pollutants like NOx and PM positions fossil fuels as a continued energy source during the transition to cleaner alternatives in the maritime sector.

However, the widespread adoption of alternative marine fuels—such as ‘green’ hydrogen and ammonia—faces significant hurdles. These fuels are currently expensive to produce, store, and transport in the maritime context. Additionally, concerns about their safety, especially when used on ships and in port environments, further complicate their immediate viability. Nuclear power, while promising, remains a long-term solution, requiring years of development and regulatory approvals before it can be widely adopted in shipping.

Until these technologies mature, the combination of carbon capture and advanced fuel additives with fuel processing technology offers a reliable and cost-effective way for the maritime industry to reduce emissions without abandoning fossil fuels prematurely. This approach could help shipping companies meet regulatory requirements while maintaining operational and economic stability, delaying the need for more radical shifts to alternative energy sources.

Paul Morgan is Managing Director at CPM Marine Services.

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