The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) announced that its Project CAPTURED has reached two significant regulatory milestones. The project, which previously showcased the world's first complete value chain for capturing and liquefying CO2 onboard vessels, has now been formally recognized under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). This recognition means that the verified amount of CO2 captured during the project can be subtracted from a vessel's total emissions, reducing the number of EU ETS allowances required.
Additionally, Project CAPTURED has secured in-principle support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for its carbon mineralisation efforts. This dual recognition marks a crucial step forward for the adoption of onboard carbon capture technologies in the maritime sector.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this development signals a potential pathway for carriers to reduce their EU ETS compliance costs. As more vessels adopt carbon capture technologies, it could lead to a stabilization or even reduction in the emissions-related surcharges passed on to customers. Increased regulatory clarity and support for such technologies may also accelerate their deployment, contributing to the industry's overall decarbonisation goals and potentially influencing future routing and carrier selection based on environmental performance.