Greener shipping: lack of infrastructure, incentives is hindering projects to capture and store vessels’ carbon emissions, says Hong Kong shipowner

Name: World’s largest container ship leaves dry dock in Shanghai
Uploaded: 2023-10-23T07:00:24.000Z
Duration: 57 s
Description: World’s largest container ship leaves dry dock in Shanghai

A challenge for shipowners seeking to deploy carbon capture and storage technology is a lack of port infrastructure and offloading facilities

Shipping accounts for about 3 per cent of global carbon emissions, according to the International Maritime Organisation

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A recent feasibility study suggested the CCS on ships is technically and financially feasible. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Eric Ng

Published: 3:00pm, 23 Oct 2023Updated: 9:30am, 24 Oct 2023

Insufficient port infrastructure and policy incentives are hindering the proliferation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) retrofit projects on vessels, according to a Hong Kong shipowner.

This is despite a recent feasibility study that suggested the climate mitigation solution is technically and financially feasible, said Hare Ram Sah, fleet director of privately-owned Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings.

“[It] suggests that not only is CCS in existing fleets feasible, but it is also an economically feasible option,” he told the Post. “But customised design of CCS units is required to ensure each ship can reach its maximum possible carbon dioxide [removal capacity].”

One big challenge facing shipowners seeking to deploy the technology, which has been used for decades in industrial projects on land but remains nascent in maritime settings, is a lack of port infrastructure and offloading facilities, he said.

“Some pilot projects and infrastructure are under consideration near Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. We are keeping abreast of the latest developments with service providers,” Sah added.

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World’s largest container ship leaves dry dock in Shanghai

Another factor hindering CCS installation is the fact the carbon dioxide captured on-board does not yet count towards reducing a vessel owner’s carbon intensity under current International Maritime Organisation rules.