Shanghai Pioneers First Ship-to-Ship LCO₂ Transfer, Advancing Maritime Carbon Capture

In a significant advancement for maritime decarbonization, China has successfully carried out its first ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Hangzhou Bay, Shanghai. The project was led by Shanghai Qiyao Environmental Technology (SMDERI-QET), a subsidiary of the Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute (SMDERI), under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It was supported by Shanghai Port Group Energy Co. and Logistics Co.

The operation utilised SMDERI-QET’s Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage System (OCCS), which boasts a CO₂ capture rate exceeding 80% and LCO₂ purity of 99.9%. Since early 2024, the OCCS has been deployed in multiple full-process projects, enabling shipowners to significantly improve their Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings, a first for OCCS in maritime applications.

Despite this technological progress, the adoption of OCCS has been hindered by limited port infrastructure capable of handling large-scale LCO₂ offloading. According to Su Yi, General Manager at SMDERI-QET, most ports lack the facilities necessary for ship-to-shore CO₂ transfer due to technical and spatial constraints.

The successful ship-to-ship LCO₂ transfer at Yangshan Port offers a game-changing solution. It bypasses the need for fixed terminal facilities, offering greater operational flexibility. Offloaded LCO₂ can now be shipped directly to designated storage or utilisation sites, streamlining the capture-to-reuse process.

This breakthrough is expected to accelerate the adoption of OCCS technology and lay the foundation for broader, scalable decarbonization in global shipping operations.