Carbon capture to allow carbon neutral Samskip services

Samskip Samskip_Innovator.jpg
Shortsea operator Samskip will be able to offer a carbon neutral service on two of its vessels after adopting a carbon capture system.

Samskip has chosen the Filtree gas cleaning solution from Value Maritime for its container ships Samskip Innovator and Samskip Endeavour. The systems remove sulphur, particulate matter and CO2 from exhaust, and removes oil residues and ultra-fine particles from wash water as well as neutralising its Ph value.

For ships running conventional fuel, the Filtree system removes a minimum of 30% of CO2 emissions and pumps recovered CO2 into a CO2 battery, with sizes available from 3MW to 15MW to serve vessels up to around 2,000 teu. The Samskip vessels will have 10MW units installed in ISO tank containers on-deck. The batteries are charged during the voyage and then unloaded in port, with the captured CO2 trucked to consumers like greenhouses for discharge.

The Samskip installations are slated for early 2023, with the units located behind the ship funnels.

“We work closely with freight owners who prioritise sustainability and whose end consumers hold them to account,” said Erik Hofmeester, Head of Vessel Management, Samskip. “Samskip Innovator and Samskip Endeavour, for example, run between the UK and the Netherlands on bio-fuels, which already cut CO2 by 90%. Using the Filtree system in addition will allow us to offer our first carbon neutral shortsea services.”

Hofmeester said the CO2 logistics aspect of the Value Maritime solution was highly appealing to Samskip. “We haven’t seen anything like Filtree carbon capture technology out there, but reusing the CO2 by delivering it to greenhouses – that’s something really special,” he said. “It’s an elegant system which redelivers CO2 for natural absorption.”

Laurens Visser, Commercial Manager, Value Maritime, said tens of Filtree installations had been made to date. “Ship operators can remain compliant while using lower cost, higher-sulphur fuel, for example. Others may be planning ahead for future regulations on CO2 and want to ensure that the technology they choose has been proven in service,” said Visser.

 “Carbon capture technology can make a significant contribution for owners seeking to reduce their carbon footprints now. We are making a ‘green circle’ for ship owners and freight shippers by recycling the CO2, and offering certificated accountability on greenhouse gas reductions.”