Capital Gas leads with onboard carbon capture innovation

Capital Gas Ship Management, in collaboration with ERMA FIRST and Babcock, has signed a letter of intent to implement carbon capture and storage (CCS) system Carbon Fit on four forthcoming liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carriers.

These vessels, currently under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, are set to be delivered in 2026. At 22,000-m³, they will be the largest LCO2 carriers ever built and will join the Capital Gas fleet, reflecting the company’s commitment to pioneering advancements in maritime technology.

The Carbon Fit system, developed by ERMA FIRST, has received approval in principle from Lloyd’s Register and DNV. Utilising amine absorption technology, the system employs a proprietary amine solvent to capture CO2 from flue gases. This captured CO2 is then subjected to a chemical reaction induced by heating, which separates the CO2 from the solvent. 

The separated CO2 is subsequently liquefied using Babcock LGE’s ecoCO2 system and stored on board in pressurised low-temperature storage tanks for later offloading. The process’s efficiency is enhanced by the solvent’s ability to be reused, creating a sustainable regenerative loop.

Capital Gas Ship Management Corp managing director Miltos Zisis stressed the environmental significance of this project, "As part of our ongoing efforts to minimise our impact on the environment, but also to actively contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future, Capital Gas proudly became the world’s first ship manager to supervise the construction of LCO2 carriers. Now, we are taking a step further. Alongside our partners, we are developing advanced carbon capture technology to enhance the environmental sustainability of these ships."

Babcock LGE managing director Neale Campbell highlighted the importance of integrating carbon capture with their ecoCO2 system, “The addition of onboard carbon capture to these first-of-a-kind vessels with our ecoCO2 system, is a significant step towards achieving the shipping industry’s emissions reduction targets.”

ERMA FIRST Group co-founder and managing director Konstantinos Stampedakis spoke of the breakthrough nature of this project for both the company and the industry, “This project is a major breakthrough not only for ERMA FIRST and our CCS technology but also for shipping’s journey towards low-carbon operations. Under normal conditions, CCS systems are expected to cut vessel CO2 emissions by 15% to 30%. At this specific project, the CO2 capture rate will exceed 70%. This will play a significant role in helping Capital Gas to achieve its decarbonisation objectives but also to have the first almost carbon neutral vessels.”