Dutch company Value Maritime has signed contracts with Netherlands-based short sea operator JR Shipping to fit two of its vessels with a combined filter and carbon capture unit.
Following an order received in early March to equip JR Shipping’s container feeder ship Endeavor with the system, the two companies have signed a further agreement to fit a similar system to a second feeder ship, Energy.
Value Maritime’s combined scrubber and CO2 capture system is known as Filtree. The system has been developed for small and medium-sized ships on the basis of a technology that, in addition to sulphur, can remove ultra-fine particulate matter and CO₂ from exhaust gases. The system ensures that the PH value of the washing water used is neutralised and contributes to reducing acidification of the seawater.
JR Shipping and Value Maritime say they are building momentum and combining their knowledge and resources to take significant steps in the decarbonisation of short sea shipping. Both companies endorse the urgency to strongly reduce the emissions in the international shipping industry.
The JR Shipping Group is following two tracks. On the one hand, the shipping company recently launched its ECO Feeder newbuilding programme, based on innovative designs, and prepared for the future transition to clean and new fuel applications. Value Maritime’s filter technology also plays a role in the innovative JR Shipping ECO Feeder concept.
The second track that the JR Shipping Group is focusing on is making existing vessels more sustainable. Container feeder vessels Endeavor and Energy are the first.
Value Maritime cites the following advantages for the container feeder charter market:
- Full compliance with sulphur emission regulations while still operating on cost-efficient fuel.
- In addition to sulphur, particulate matter is filtered from the exhaust gases, which provides an additional environmental benefit.
- CO₂ is stored and re-used with the capture and storage module, which reduces the vessel’s ecological footprint.
The JR Shipping Group and Value Maritime will continue to cooperate to capitalise on any opportunity to contribute to less pollution in shipping activities.
