The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has successfully completed the world’s first maritime demonstration of a full end-to-end value chain for onboard carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture. The pilot concluded on June 25, 2025, in China, marking a significant step forward in connecting maritime decarbonisation with broader carbon utilisation infrastructure.
The project unfolded in two key phases. In the first, Shanghai Qiyao Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (SMDERI-QET) led a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of 25.44 metric tons of captured CO₂ from the container vessel MV Ever Top to the receiving vessel Dejin 26. The CO₂ was later offloaded at a jetty in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and transported by tank truck to its next destination.
In the second phase, managed by GCMD, the liquefied CO₂ was delivered to a joint venture facility between GreenOre and Baotou Steel in Inner Mongolia. There, it was successfully used to produce low-carbon calcium carbonate, a key component in sustainable construction materials.
This landmark initiative demonstrates the feasibility of capturing CO₂ at sea and repurposing it on land—linking shipboard emissions reduction with industrial decarbonisation strategies.
