DNV has released a recommended practice (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 and defines key metrics like capture rate, captured CO2 quantity, emissions to atmosphere, and gross capture efficiency. It is technology-neutral and covers pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel approaches. The new standard is significant because about 90% of the operational fleet still relies on fossil fuels, and onboard carbon capture offers a way to reduce emissions for vessels that cannot easily switch to low-GHG fuels. DNV estimates that developing CO2 offloading infrastructure at just 20 major ports could cut total world fleet CO2 emissions by 9%. The IMO is also working on guidelines for OCCS, expected by 2028. The RP includes a structured third-party verification process covering documentation, measurement setup, performance calculations, and uncertainty evaluation. This gives designers, shipyards, manufacturers, and owners a common technical language to define and verify performance in both newbuild and retrofit projects, supporting more informed investment decisions.
