Classification society DNV has released a recommended practice that sets a standardized framework for measuring and verifying the performance of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems. The new standard aims to provide consistent metrics for how well these systems capture CO2 from ship exhaust, which is a key step toward making marine carbon capture a credible emissions reduction option. Without a common verification method, shipowners and regulators have struggled to compare OCCS performance across different technologies and installations. DNV's recommended practice fills that gap by defining how capture rates, energy consumption, and storage integrity should be tested and reported. This could help accelerate adoption of onboard capture as part of the shipping industry's decarbonization toolkit. The standard covers both technical performance criteria and verification procedures. It is designed to work alongside existing IMO regulations and could influence how future carbon credits or compliance credits are awarded for captured emissions at sea. The maritime sector accounts for roughly 3% of global CO2 emissions, and onboard capture is one of several approaches being pursued alongside fuel switching and efficiency improvements.
