Exploring the Future of Sustainable Shipping: Insights from the 2nd CSIIG Workshop

In the dynamic landscape of maritime sustainability, the 2nd CSIIG (CO₂ Shipping Interoperability Industry Group) Workshop, held on September 20, 2023, as part of the EverLoNG project's Work Package 2 (WP 2), illuminated the path forward for carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) in the shipping industry. Bringing together 57 experts and stakeholders from over 35 different organisations, the workshop provided a platform for in-depth discussions on various facets of sustainable shipping. Let's delve into some of the highlights of this event.

The EverLoNG Project & Full CCUS Chain Overview

The workshop commenced with a warm welcome and an overview of the EverLoNG project by Richard L Stevenson, Project & Research Analyst at SCCS/The University of Edinburgh. The objectives of the EverLoNG project were outlined, emphasising the demonstration of Ship-based Carbon Capture (SBCC) technology on LNG-fueled ships, optimisation of SBCC integration into existing ship infrastructure, and facilitation of the regulatory framework for the development of SBCC-based full CCUS chains.

Part of this initiative involved the creation of the CO₂ Shipping Interoperability Industry Group (CSIIG), a vital component to address interoperability, port readiness, port infrastructure, and CO₂ specifications within the industry.

Ragnhild Skagestad, Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF and EverLoNG WP2 lead, provided a more in-depth exploration of SBCC technology. She underscored the importance of developing offloading strategies, establishing guidelines for CO₂ shipping interoperability, and selecting ports based on geographical factors, ship travel routes, existing pipelines usable for CO₂ transport, vicinity to permanent storage and/or CO₂ utilisation customers, and regulatory bodies' involvement. Ms Skagestad explained that the EverLoNG project aims to identify the infrastructure needed for CO₂ handling at ports and propose a timeline for port implementation. However, not all ports may require such infrastructure. To maximise impact, the project suggests focusing on the busiest shipping lanes with the potential for significant emissions reduction from the shipping industry. These lanes could become "green corridors," where selected ports offer CO₂-handling facilities. Ms Ragnhild concluded that SBCC is a feasible decarbonisation measure, but challenges exist, including shipboard integration issues and variations in CO₂ capture and liquefaction capacities. Portside CO₂ handling infrastructure is also lacking. To address these challenges, she proposed identifying high-impact shipping lanes and ports, creating green corridors like Rotterdam – Singapore, and prioritising infrastructure development for maximum decarbonisation benefits.
 

Port Perspectives

The Port Perspective section featured insights from Arne Strybos, Program Manager Fuel Transition at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. He discussed the "Antwerp@C" project, dedicated to transitioning Antwerp-Bruges to a circular and climate-neutral port, in collaboration with leading chemical and energy companies. One objective is to reduce CO₂ emissions in Antwerp by half by 2030 through the capture and storage of CO₂, possibly in empty gas fields under the North Sea. For this, Mr Strybos emphasised the need for international cooperation due to Belgium's unsuitable subsoil for underground CO₂ storage. The project envisions two possibilities for cross-border CO₂ transport infrastructure. Initially, CO₂ would be transported in liquid form to vacant gas fields in the North Sea region during the first phase. Subsequently, in the second phase, Antwerp@C intends to investigate the feasibility of conveying CO₂ through pipelines to the Netherlands.

During his presentation, Mr Strybos emphasised that numerous unresolved queries persist regarding captured CO₂ from shipping, including aspects like CO₂ specifications, port-related procedures, terminal infrastructure connections, and considerations related to CCUS applications.

Mr Strybos also provided insights into the Port of Antwerp-Bruges' role as a regulator and its Port safety management framework concerning LNG Ship-to-Ship (STS) bunker operations, with potential implications for CO₂ bunkering.

Françoise van den Brink, from the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Harbourmaster Division, presented the various low-emission new fuel strategies the Port of Rotterdam is pursuing. She discussed their safety regulatory maturity and their onboard technology availability. Ms Van den Brink emphasised the importance of understanding that readiness levels and timelines may vary for each port. The main focus of her presentation was the Port Readiness Level Tool Checklist for Marine Fuels (PRL-MF), developed by the Port of Rotterdam in partnership with nine other international ports, which will be published around the end of this year. This tool evaluates a port's readiness for new fuels or energy carriers across domains such as governance, safety, infrastructure, and market and supply/demand. Ms Van den Brink highlighted that this Readiness Level Tool could be transferable to CO₂ transport via ports and ships.
 

Shipping/CO₂ Handling Perspective

The workshop also featured Tor Skogan, Vice President Gas at Moss Maritime, who provided insights into the company's involvement in various aspects of shipping and CO₂ handling. He began by outlining Moss Maritime's expertise in Gas Technologies relevant to CCS, highlighting their contributions to the development of liquefied gas competence, floating LNG terminals, and LNG regasification systems.

Mr. Skogan further shed light on Moss Maritime's active engagement in several crucial CCS-related projects, emphasising their contributions to advancing carbon capture and storage technologies. These initiatives include the Northern Lights project, ACCSESS, CETO, and the Stella Maris CCS project.

Frank Wettland, Project Manager - New Venture CCS for Altera Infrastructure, shared during his presentation insights into the Stella Maris CCS project. Stella Maris CCS is a large-scale, flexible, scalable maritime logistics solution for captured CO₂ from industrial sources, both large and small. The project aims to provide cost-efficient floating CCS infrastructure solutions for a global market. Stella Maris is poised to handle substantial CO₂ volumes, making a significant impact on carbon capture efforts. It's one of the leading CCS projects in Europe, having been awarded a storage license in Norway. During his presentation, Mr Wettland revealed that Altera Infrastructure is actively conducting an onboard CCS pilot study, scheduled to run from June 2023 to June 2024. This pilot study is focused on developing an onboard CCS retrofit case based on the E-Shuttle concept, with scalability tailored to suit Altera's Stella Maris CO₂ carriers. The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and potential benefits of retrofitting onboard CCS technology. Mr Wettland emphasised that the anticipated outcome of this endeavour is formulating a comprehensive business case, which will be complemented by a Techno-Economic evaluation.
 

Interactive discussion

Following the presentation section, an interactive discussion ensued, facilitated by using Mentimeter.

In summary, the 2nd CSIIG Workshop provided a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in carbon capture, shipping, and port readiness. With a diverse range of perspectives from industry experts and port authorities, attendees gained valuable insights into the critical strategies and initiatives driving the carbon capture and utilisation chain forward.
 

Click here to access the presentation and mentimeter discussion slides