Classification society DNV has released a new recommended practice, DNV-RP-0698, that sets a standardized framework for measuring and verifying the performance of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems on ships. The framework uses mass balance principles to define key metrics like capture rates, captured CO2 quantity, remaining emissions, and capture efficiency. It is technology-neutral and applies to pre-combustion, post-combustion, oxy-fuel, and other capture designs. The guideline includes a third-party verification process covering system documentation, measurement setup, performance calculations, and uncertainty assessment. This is meant to reduce investment risk for shipyards, manufacturers, and shipowners considering OCCS for new builds or retrofits. With about 90 percent of the global fleet still running on fossil fuels, the framework aims to give the maritime industry a clear technical basis for deploying onboard carbon capture as a near-term emission reduction option. The International Maritime Organization is also developing formal OCCS guidelines, with a target completion date of 2028. DNV's RP arrives ahead of that timeline, providing a shared technical language that could help accelerate adoption of onboard carbon capture across the shipping sector.
