By Abbas Nazil
Samskip and Value Maritime are spearheading advancements in maritime sustainability with a cutting-edge compact carbon-capture system, funded by the Dutch government under the Maritime Masterplan program.
This groundbreaking initiative will see the installation of the advanced system aboard the Samskip Kvitbjorn, an LNG-powered ro/ro freight ferry operating between Rotterdam and Hammerfest.
The project marks another milestone in their collaborative efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in the shipping industry.
The Samskip Kvitbjorn’s new system builds on the success of Value Maritime’s earlier carbon-capture and scrubber technology, which has been implemented on vessels such as Samskip Innovator and Samskip Endeavor.
These biofuel-driven feeders serve routes between the UK and the Netherlands and demonstrate the effectiveness of Value Maritime’s CO2 capture technology in reducing emissions.
Samskip’s decision to incorporate carbon-capture technology on additional vessels underscores its commitment to sustainable maritime operations.
This latest system is a significant evolution of Value Maritime’s existing design, first introduced on the boxship Nordica and now widely used by small cargo vessels and tankers.
The new version for the Samskip Kvitbjorn boasts a one-third reduction in height and footprint, making it the most compact carbon-capture system of its kind.
Despite its smaller size, it retains the capability to remove up to 40 percent of CO2 from the ship’s exhaust gases.
The captured CO2 is stored onboard in a liquid amine solution, which is later offloaded for processing upon the vessel’s arrival at port.
In a move to further enhance the vessel’s efficiency, the system will integrate an exhaust gas heat recovery unit, enabling the conversion of flue gas into electricity.
This dual functionality not only captures carbon but also improves the ship’s overall fuel efficiency, aligning with global sustainability goals and reducing operational costs.
The initiative is complemented by a $2 million investment from Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam, aimed at establishing a CO2 offloading and processing hub in Rotterdam.
This facility will handle the amine-based CO2 mixture captured by the system, processing it for reuse and replenishing ships with fresh amine.
This development highlights a critical step in creating a sustainable circular process for maritime carbon management.
Through this collaboration, Samskip and Value Maritime are setting new benchmarks for environmental innovation in the maritime sector, paving the way for broader adoption of compact, efficient carbon-capture technology across the shipping industry.