MOL to install CO2 capture system onboard LR1 product tanker

April 22, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has decided to equip its LR1 product tanker with Value Maritime’s Filtree system, an onboard CO2 capture system with a SOx scrubber.

Dutch energy-saving tech company Value Maritime will provide a 15MW next-generation exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) Filtree with its additional carbon capture unit.

The vessel in question is a 75,000 dwt Nexus Victoria, the largest vessel, in terms of DWT, and the first LR1 tanker that will sail with a Value Maritime’s Filtree and carbon capture unit.

The Filtree system is based on an “innovative technology” that filters sulfur, CO₂ and ultra-fine particulate matter from the tankers’ exhaust stream.

The plug-and-play system installed on the MOL product tanker will be outfitted with a CO₂ capture and storage system to help reduce emissions further. With this, CO₂is captured from the vessel’s exhaust and stored in tanks onboard. This is then discharged onshore where it can be used, for example, in the sustainable cultivation of greenhouse crops, methanol plants, and even the food industry.

Specifically, the Filtree system has a scrubber function that removes 99% of sulfur oxides and particulate matter (PM) contained in exhaust gases and a carbon capture and storage (CCS) function that separates and recovers up to 10% of CO2 from the exhaust emissions, according to Value Maritime.

The installation is set to take place around the end of the year.

“Hopefully this is the first of many Japanese clients that we can support in achieving decarbonisation initiatives. We are grateful to the MOL team for placing their trust and belief in us and the quality of our technology and showing the market how it’s done. Working with one of the world’s most reputable shipowners keeps us motivated. It challenges us to stay ahead and continue to provide the best and simplest emission-reducing solutions to the shipping industry.” Laurens Visser, Commercial Manager – Value Maritime said.

“Our ambition is to expand our Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) facilities globally through our sister company, Value Carbon. Offering clients end-to-end solutions is the only way we can reach industry decarbonisation goals. We focus specifically on locations where captured carbon is best handled, like bunkering ports and always look for the most energy-efficient way to utilise the carbon at the lowest cost per tonne,” Christiaan Nijst, Founder and Director– Value Group commented.

“This system is noteworthy as an initiative to promote decarbonisation of existing vessels, which are difficult to convert to next-generation fuels. MOL and VM will continue working toward the realisation of a carbon-neutral society by reducing GHG emissions from vessels and building a CO₂ capture value chain.” Hiroyoshi Kubo, Executive Officer – Tanker Unit, MOL stated.

The move is part of MOL Group’s environmental strategy as the company has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. According to MOL, this system is noteworthy as an initiative to promote decarbonization of existing vessels, which are difficult to convert to next-generation fuels.

MOL and VM will continue working toward the realization of a carbon-neutral society by reducing GHG emissions from vessels and building a CO₂ capture value chain.