Berge Bulk Launches Innovative Trial for Onboard Carbon Capture Technology on Bulk Carriers

Berge bulk is stepping up to the plate by testing a new onboard carbon capture system. As stricter emissions regulations loom, this technology is gaining traction among ship owners looking to extend the lifespan of their vessels and navigate the uncertain waters of option fuel availability.

“Carbon capture plays a crucial role in our strategy for reducing emissions,” shared james Marshall, CEO of Berge Bulk. “While we’re focused on enhancing fleet efficiency and transitioning to greener fuels, capturing carbon simultaneously is essential. We’ve been utilizing nature-based solutions on land for years; now it’s time to bring that approach aboard our ships.”

The pilot program is being conducted on the company’s Ultramax bulker, Berge Yotei, which weighs in at 63,000 dwt. Launched in 2020 and registered in the Isle of Man, this vessel was crafted at Japan’s Imabari Shipyard.

The innovative system being tested comes from Value Maritime and combines carbon capture with an exhaust gas cleaning setup called the Filtree system. This tech can potentially snag up to 15 tonnes of CO2 daily—translating into a significant 30% drop in emissions during operations.

Differing from traditional scrubbers, Filtree tackles both sulfur oxides and CO2 from exhaust fumes.The captured CO2 gets absorbed into a reusable amine solution that can be offloaded at ports for regeneration or repurposing—think uses like greenhouse cultivation or beverage manufacturing.

This onboard carbon capture system integrates seamlessly with existing scrubber technology (Berge Bulk)

Berge emphasizes that while frameworks like MARPOL and EU ETS are still taking shape, they’re already gathering valuable insights on how these systems can be effectively implemented and scaled aboard ships. With over 100 vessels under its management totaling more than 15 million dwt capacity, collaboration among governments, ports, tech developers, and regulators will be vital for creating supportive infrastructure around large-scale carbon capture.

Founded in 2017, Value Maritime began rolling out its systems two years later and has since equipped several large vessels with this technology. For instance, Eastern Pacific’s chemical tanker,PACIFIC COBALT, adopted it earlier this year while Mitsui O.S.K Lines outfitted their tanker,Nexus Victoria, as well.

Despite initial doubts regarding storage needs for captured CO2 before offloading it ashore—concerns that have been common across various industries—the maritime sector’s interest is growing rapidly as applications expand beyond just land-based emitters. Recently Wärtsilä announced its own onboard carbon capture solution—a move hailed as revolutionary for both existing ships and future builds.
p>