US company Stax Engineering says it is building momentum in the UK market, participating in a consortium that has secured £1.1m in government funding led by carbon capture startup Seabound for its first major European project.
The maritime emissions capture and control project has been awarded a grant through the UK Department for Transport’s sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6) as part of ‘PortZero’, a four-company consortium with Seabound, port operator Associated British Ports (ABP), and Lomar Shipping.
The PortZero project, entitled ‘Enabling Zero-Emission Ports via Carbon and Air Pollution Capture from Berthed Vessels’, tackles what the project partners consider to be one of the maritime industry’s most pressing challenges, namely decarbonising port operations while improving air quality in port communities. By integrating Seabound’s carbon capture technology onto Stax’s emissions capture and control barge, the project will demonstrate how ports can achieve comprehensive emissions reductions without costly vessel retrofits or new infrastructure investments. The solution is said to provide a practical, cost-effective alternative to shore power installations, which require significant upfront capital, are not viable for all vessel types, and remain largely unbuilt—with major European ports having installed or commissioned only 20% of the infrastructure which will be required by EU regulations.
Mike Walker, CEO Stax Engineering, said: “This project validates what we’ve known for years—ports need emissions solutions that work today without the infrastructure disruptions caused by solutions like shore power. The UK government’s investment in PortZero proves there’s real demand for technology that delivers immediate results without forcing ports to choose between operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. Our message is simple: clean air can’t wait, and with this technology, it doesn’t have to.”
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition is designed to accelerate the development of clean maritime technologies and infrastructure in the UK. Funded through the UK Government’s £236 million UK Shore (Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions) programme and delivered by Innovate UK, CMDC6 committed more than £30 million across 71 projects focused on maritime decarbonisation and smart shipping.
Max Harris, ABP Head of Strategy and Sustainability, said: “Sustainability and innovation are key themes as ABP helps its customers to adapt to the changing environment. We are excited to explore the potential of this innovative solution as we pursue ever better air quality at our ports and support maritime decarbonisation”.
Stax and Seabound offer what is thought to be the first fully integrated emissions solution that is immediate, requiring no retrofits or expensive overhauls. Stax’s mobile barge captures up to 99% of particulate matter (PM) and 95% of NOx, while Seabound’s unit isolates and stores up to 95% of CO2 and 90% of sulphur emissions. The system will debut at ABP’s Southampton port with vessels from UK-based Lomar Shipping.
PortZero expands upon the successful Carbon Capture Showcase from April 2025, where the combined STAX-Seabound solution was first debuted and highlights collaboration with ABP, demonstrating growing momentum for addressing port emissions globally.
Image: Stax Engineering’s capture and control barge (source: Stax Engineering)
