Full-Scale CCS Retrofit of Ethylene Carrier: A Collaborative Initiative

• The vessel will leave dry dock in February 2025 for a year-long pilot testing phase.
• CEO Edvin Endresen sees onboard CCS as a shortcut to deep-sea fleet decarbonization.
• Seatrium is responsible for the retrofit’s engineering and system integration.

The Clipper Eris ethylene carrier measures 21,289 cubic meters and is part of a new joint project launched by Solvang, Seatrium, Wärtsilä, MAN Energy Solutions, and SINTEF research institute, to do a full retrofit of CCS for the vessel, reports Offshore Energy.

Enova-Backed CCS Project Details

The project will retrofit a 7 MW Wärtsilä CCS system designed to capture 70% of CO2 emissions from the main engine using advanced amine cleaning technology. The retrofit also includes the complete value chain for CO2 handling, such as liquefaction and onboard storage.

Seatrium’s Scope of Work

Seatrium plays a key role in the retrofit process, focusing on:

1. Basic and detailed engineering
2. Procurement
3. Upgrading electrical and automation systems
4. Integration of the carbon capture and compression/storage system

The retrofit is being done at Seatrium’s Admiralty yard in Singapore.

Project Milestones and Testing

The retrofit started in early 2024, and the vessel spent a few months in dry dock. On January 16, 2025, the project team met in Singapore to present their work. The ship is set to leave the docks in early February for pilot testing.

The CCS system will be tested over the next year while the vessel operates commercially. If successful, Solvang plans to install this technology on additional vessels, including new buildings set for delivery in 2026-2027.

Decarbonization Potential

Edvin Endresen, CEO of Solvang ASA, highlighted the significance of onboard carbon capture systems: “Onboard carbon capture combined with existing cleaning technology is a significant shortcut to decarbonization of the world’s deep-sea fleet. This stands out as one of the more promising solutions for future vessels.”

Challenges and Future Outlook

While the technology offers promising benefits, Endresen emphasized the need for global infrastructure and regulations to support its adoption: “CO2 can be recycled and used in land-based industries, but the global infrastructure for discharge for shipping needs to be developed fast. In addition, IMO must implement global regulations with benefits and penalty schemes for achieving the set goals. Predictability is necessary for the industry to invest in solutions for reducing CO2 emissions.”

With pilot testing on the horizon, this project marks a critical step toward reducing CO2 emissions in the shipping industry.