Berge Bulk has completed the installation of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) system on board its 63,000 dwt Ultramax vessel, ‘Berge Yotei’, marking a key step in its decarbonisation journey under the company’s signature ‘Maritime Marshall Plan’ for decarbonisation.
The CCS system, developed by Value Maritime, integrates carbon capture into an exhaust gas cleaning system known as the Filtree System. It is designed to capture up to 15t/day of CO₂, representing a potential 30% reduction in emissions during operations.
Unlike conventional scrubbers, the Filtree System removes both SOx and CO₂ from a vessel’s exhaust. CO₂ is absorbed into a reusable amine solution, which can be offloaded in port for regeneration or reuse. Potential applications include use in horticulture, beverage production, and other industrial processes — contributing to a more circular carbon economy.
James Marshall, CEO Berge Bulk, said: “Carbon capture is a key pillar of our decarbonisation strategy. While we remain committed to optimising fleet efficiency, installing decarbonisation technology, and switching to new fuels, we must also capture carbon at the same time. We’ve been actively capturing carbon through nature-based solutions on shore for many years, now it’s time to also start capturing carbon on board.”
Berge Bulk’s commitment to carbon capture began in 2021 with a pledge to plant 25m trees through global reforestation projects. By the end of 2024, 18.5m trees had been planted. While regulatory frameworks such as Marpol and the EU ETS are still evolving, Berge Bulk says it is already contributing practical insights into how onboard CCS systems can be implemented, monitored, and scaled.
This pilot is part of Berge Bulk’s broader ‘Maritime Marshall Plan’ — a four-pillar decarbonisation strategy focused on:
- Maintain a relentless focus on imroving fleet efficiency;
- Leveraging the latest advances maritime technology;
- Converting to new fuels;
- Investing in solutions to capture the remaining carbon through technology and nature.
Berge Bulk has set three key decarbonisation milestones
- Offset 100% of carbon emissions from 2025 onward;
- Build and operate a zero-emissions vessel by 2030;
- Achieve zero carbon emissions fleetwide by 2050.
As the industry looks to decarbonise, Berge Bulk emphasises the need for collaboration across governments, ports, technology providers, and regulators to develop the infrastructure, protocols, and commercial models needed to support carbon capture at scale.
Image: Filtree system on Berge Bulk vessel (source: Berge Bulk)
