Revolutionizing Emission Regulations: Ship-to-Ship CO2 Transfer Demonstration at Port of Shanghai

The Port of Shanghai witnessed a groundbreaking demonstration recently, marking a significant milestone in the maritime industry’s efforts to combat emissions. The first-ever ship-to-ship transfer of CO2 captured from a large Evergreen containership took place at the Yangshan Deepwater Port’s Shengdong Terminal. This innovative operation showcased the potential of CO2 capture for in-service vessels to meet stringent emission regulations, as highlighted by Chinese officials.

The vessel at the center of this pioneering demonstration was the Ever Top, a 152,300 deadweight tonnage (dwt) containership that underwent a retrofit in 2024 by China State Shipbuilding (CSSC). Equipped with a state-of-the-art CO2 capture system developed by the Shanghai Marine Diesel Research Institute, the Ever Top boasts an absorption module, a regeneration module, compression refrigeration, and storage capabilities. Reports indicate that the system can capture over 80 percent of CO2 emissions with 99.9 percent purity, storing the captured CO2 onboard until offloaded in port.

However, one of the challenges in implementing shipboard CO2 capture has been the offloading and storage process. Traditionally, vessels have offloaded CO2 to trucks, which can be slow and cumbersome. In May 2024, a tank was offloaded from the Ever Top, showcasing the limitations of this method. To address this issue, a barge vessel named De Jin, resembling a bunker barge, was positioned alongside the containership for the ship-to-ship transfer, a first in CO2 capture technology.

The advantages of ship-to-ship transfer over traditional land transport methods are manifold. The barge vessel offers greater capacity than trucks and increased flexibility in offloading locations, addressing bottlenecks and proving to be a more cost-effective solution for transporting captured CO2. Chinese authorities assert that this method could potentially generate up to $8 million per year from the sale of the captured CO2, opening up new revenue streams for vessel operators.

Moreover, CO2 captured from vessel operations and transferred to shore is destined for reuse in various industrial applications, contributing to sustainability goals and environmental stewardship. The retrofitting of in-service vessels with CO2 capture systems presents a viable and economical solution to extend their operational lifespan in compliance with evolving emissions regulations. Evergreen’s investment of approximately $10 million in retrofitting the Ever Top underscores the cost-effectiveness of this approach compared to acquiring new vessels or converting existing ships to alternative fuels.