CAPITAL GAS, ERMA FIRST and BABCOCK signed a Letter of Intent  to install a pioneering Carbon Capture and Storage  system, CARBON FIT, on board four new liquefied carbon dioxide  carriers.

Due for delivery by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in 2026, the 22,000 cbm LCO₂carriers will join the Capital Gas managed fleet as the largest of their kind ever built.

The ERMA FIRST CARBON FIT system holds Approval in Principle (AiP) from both Lloyd’s Register and DNV. It uses amine absorption technology based on a proprietary amine solvent to absorb CO₂ from flue gases. The resultant mix is then heated to produce a chemical reaction that reverses the absorption, separating the CO₂ from the solvent. Subsequently, the released CO₂ is liquefied using Babcock LGE’s ecoCO2® system and stored on board the ship in pressurised low-temperature storage for subsequent offloading. Since the regenerated solvent can be re-used, the process creates a highly efficient regenerative loop for CCS.

Miltos Zisis, Managing Director, Capital Gas Ship Management Corp., said: “As part of our ongoing efforts to minimize our impact on the environment, but also to actively contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future, Capital Gas proudly became the world’s first ship manager to supervise the construction of LCO₂ carriers. Now, we are taking a step further. Alongside our partners, we are developing advanced carbon capture technology to enhance the environmental sustainability of these ships.

Neale Campbell, Managing Director, Babcock LGE, said: “The addition of onboard carbon capture to these first-of-a-kind vessels, in conjunction with our industry-defining ecoCO2® system, is a significant step towards achieving the shipping industry’s emissions reduction targets. The ecoCO2® design concept for handling both CO₂ and LPG cargoes provides a flexible solution that can easily be upgraded to incorporate carbon capture and storage requirements.”

Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ERMA FIRST Group, said: “This project is a major breakthrough not only for ERMA FIRST and our CCS technology but also for shipping’s journey towards low-carbon operations. Under normal conditions, CCS systems are expected to cut vessel CO₂emissions by 15% to 30%. At this specific project the CO₂ capture rate will exceed 70%. This will play a significant role in helping Capital Gas to achieve its decarbonisation objectives but also to have the first almost carbon neutral vessels”.

“Indeed, for owners and operators worldwide, the ERMA FIRST CARBON FIT represents a smart investment in decarbonising technology, supporting compliance with the IMO’s strengthened emissions-reduction targets while contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for the industry as a whole.”