NYK Line has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc. (HEPCO) to launch a joint study on onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) technology, aimed at supporting the decarbonisation of maritime transport.
The initiative will be centred in Tomakomai, Japan, a growing hub for carbon neutrality projects and existing large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstrations.
The collaboration brings together NYK’s decarbonisation strategy with HEPCO’s work on carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chains.
OCCS technology, which captures, liquefies and stores carbon dioxide emitted from vessels, is increasingly viewed as a potential pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in shipping.
However, operational challenges remain, particularly around the handling, storage and discharge of captured CO₂ and its downstream utilisation.
READ: NYK Bulk Carrier cuts 65 per cent GHG using methanol fuel
Under the agreement, the two parties will conduct a three-year study through fiscal year 2028, focusing on the design and operational framework of demonstration equipment to be installed on the coal carrier Pirika Moshiri Maru, owned by NYK and operated for HEPCO.
The scope of work will also examine CO2 unloading processes and potential utilisation pathways, as stakeholders seek to address key gaps in the emerging OCCS value chain.
From a broader maritime perspective, the project reflects increasing industry interest in onboard emissions capture technologies as shipping companies look to bridge the gap towards longer-term fuel transition strategies.
Through the collaboration, NYK Line aims to deepen technical understanding of OCCS systems and support their eventual commercial deployment, contributing to wider decarbonisation efforts across international shipping.
For more information:
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha – https://www.nyk.com/english/
