With Dimitris Koutsaftis, Technical Product Manager, ERMA FIRST, CCUS
Carbon capture is no longer a distant promise for shipping. It is becoming a practical tool for cutting emissions from the fleet we already have.
In this session, Dimitris Koutsaftis from ERMA FIRST shows how onboard carbon capture can help the maritime sector move faster on decarbonisation — without waiting for a complete fuel transition.
The challenge is clear: ships need solutions that work in real life, in limited space, under variable operating conditions, and with technology that can be integrated into existing vessels. ERMA FIRST’s Carbon Fit solution is designed for exactly that reality.
Based on chemical absorption and compact rotating packed beds, the technology is built to capture CO₂ efficiently while reducing the footprint compared with conventional systems. It is modular, retrofit-friendly and developed with the practical constraints of ship operation in mind. Pilot testing has demonstrated capture rates around 90 percent, high CO₂ purity for liquefaction, and valuable lessons on energy use, solvent management, corrosion and onboard integration.
But this is not just about equipment. It is about creating a new carbon value chain at sea. Captured CO₂ can be stored, transported, permanently mineralised or reused in future fuels, chemicals and materials. As regulation tightens and carbon pricing grows in importance, onboard carbon capture may become both a climate tool and a business opportunity.
The conclusion is simple: there is no silver bullet in maritime decarbonisation. But there are technologies that can make a measurable difference now.
This presentation gives engineers, shipowners and maritime decision-makers a concrete look at how onboard carbon capture works, what it requires, and why it may become one of the key bridges between today’s fleet and tomorrow’s zero-carbon shipping.
This presentation is from the meeting Carbon Capture Onboard - From Ship to Storage. The text and captions are AI-generated.
