Pioneering Carbon Capture Technology at Sea

Berge Bulk has taken a significant step toward maritime decarbonization with the installation of an advanced carbon capture system aboard the Berge Yotei, a 63,000 deadweight tonnage Ultramax vessel. The system, developed by environmental technology firm Value Maritime, represents a cutting-edge approach to reducing shipping emissions directly at the source. Unlike conventional maritime emission control systems, this technology integrates carbon capture capabilities with an exhaust gas cleaning mechanism called the Filtree System. The dual-function system can capture up to 15 metric tons of CO₂ daily during normal vessel operations, potentially achieving a 30% reduction in the ship's carbon emissions. This installation marks a notable advancement in practical, deployable solutions for the notoriously difficult-to-decarbonize shipping sector, which accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The technology's implementation on an active commercial vessel demonstrates Berge Bulk's commitment to moving beyond theoretical solutions to practical applications that can deliver measurable emission reductions while maintaining operational efficiency in global shipping routes.

How the Filtree System Works

The Filtree System distinguishes itself from traditional marine scrubbers through its innovative approach to multiple pollutants. While conventional scrubbers primarily target sulfur oxides to comply with International Maritime Organization regulations, the Filtree System simultaneously removes both sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide from vessel exhaust emissions. The technology employs a proprietary amine-based solution that chemically binds with CO₂ molecules in the exhaust stream, effectively separating them from other gases before they can be released into the atmosphere. Once captured, the CO₂ is absorbed into this reusable amine solution, which is stored onboard in specialized containment systems. When the vessel reaches port, the CO₂-saturated solution can be offloaded for regeneration, allowing the amine solution to be reused in a continuous cycle. This closed-loop system ensures that captured carbon doesn't simply represent a waste management challenge but becomes part of a circular carbon economy. The regeneration process separates the CO₂ from the amine solution, making both the carbon dioxide and the solution available for reuse in various applications, from greenhouse cultivation to beverage carbonation and other industrial processes that require carbon dioxide input.

The Maritime Marshall Plan: A Four-Pillar Strategy

The carbon capture installation represents just one component of Berge Bulk's comprehensive Maritime Marshall Plan, an ambitious strategy named after the company's CEO, James Marshall. This plan outlines a four-pillar approach to achieving decarbonization across the company's operations. The first pillar focuses on fleet efficiency improvements, including hull optimization, propulsion system upgrades, and operational adjustments to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions. The second pillar involves leveraging technological advancements in maritime equipment, from digital monitoring systems to advanced materials that can improve vessel performance while reducing environmental impact. The third pillar addresses the transition to alternative fuels, with Berge Bulk exploring options including biofuels, hydrogen, ammonia, and other low or zero-carbon energy sources. The fourth pillar, exemplified by the Berge Yotei installation, centers on carbon capture solutions through both technological means and natural processes. This comprehensive approach recognizes that no single solution will achieve the deep decarbonization required in the shipping industry, necessitating parallel efforts across multiple fronts to make meaningful progress toward emission reduction goals.

Natural Carbon Capture Through Global Reforestation

Berge Bulk's commitment to carbon capture extends beyond technological solutions to embrace nature-based approaches as well. The company initiated an ambitious reforestation program in 2021, setting a goal to plant 25 million trees through global initiatives. As of the end of 2024, the company reports having planted 18.5 million trees, demonstrating significant progress toward this target. These reforestation efforts serve multiple purposes in the company's decarbonization strategy. First, they provide natural carbon sequestration, with growing trees absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Second, they help offset emissions that cannot yet be eliminated through technological means, providing a bridge solution while more comprehensive decarbonization technologies mature. Third, they deliver additional environmental benefits beyond carbon sequestration, including biodiversity protection, soil conservation, and watershed management. The company has partnered with environmental organizations to ensure these reforestation projects follow best practices for ecological restoration and community involvement, recognizing that successful nature-based solutions require careful implementation to maximize both carbon benefits and broader environmental outcomes. This dual approach to carbon capture, combining cutting-edge maritime technology with nature-based solutions, reflects Berge Bulk's recognition that addressing climate change requires diverse and complementary strategies.

Ambitious Decarbonization Milestones

Berge Bulk has established three progressive milestones to guide its decarbonization journey. The first milestone, set for 2025, commits the company to offsetting 100% of its carbon emissions, likely through a combination of operational improvements, technological solutions, and carbon offset purchases. This near-term goal demonstrates the company's commitment to taking immediate action while developing longer-term solutions. The second milestone targets 2030 for the construction and operation of a zero-emissions vessel, representing a significant technological leap that will require innovations in vessel design, propulsion systems, and energy sources. This intermediate goal provides a concrete objective for the company's research and development efforts while creating a platform to test and refine zero-emission technologies before broader deployment. The final milestone aims for fleetwide zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with the International Maritime Organization's ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. CEO James Marshall emphasized the importance of carbon capture in this strategy, stating: "Carbon capture is a key pillar of our decarbonization strategy. While we remain committed to optimizing fleet efficiency, installing decarbonization technology, and switching to new fuels, we must also capture carbon at the same time." This statement reflects the company's recognition that achieving deep decarbonization will require simultaneous progress across multiple technological and operational fronts.

Navigating Evolving Regulatory Frameworks

Berge Bulk's carbon capture initiative comes amid an evolving regulatory landscape for maritime emissions. Key frameworks include the International Maritime Organization's MARPOL Annex VI, which regulates air pollution from ships, and the European Union's Emissions Trading System, which has been expanded to include maritime shipping emissions. These regulatory mechanisms create both compliance requirements and economic incentives for shipping companies to reduce their carbon footprint. By implementing carbon capture technology ahead of stricter regulatory enforcement, Berge Bulk positions itself advantageously for future compliance while gaining valuable operational experience with emerging technologies. The company's early adoption provides practical insights into the implementation, monitoring, and scaling of onboard carbon capture systems, potentially informing future regulatory standards and industry best practices. This proactive approach to environmental regulation represents a strategic business decision that balances near-term investments against long-term regulatory and market trends favoring lower-emission shipping options. As carbon pricing mechanisms expand globally, the economic case for technologies like the Filtree System is likely to strengthen, potentially transforming what begins as a compliance cost into a competitive advantage in a carbon-constrained shipping market.

Broader Technological Innovation Portfolio

The carbon capture system installation represents just one element of Berge Bulk's technological innovation portfolio. In March 2025, the company successfully retrofitted what it describes as the world's "first" Renk integrated front-end power system (IFPS) shaft generator on one of its vessels. This system optimizes onboard power generation and distribution, reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions during various operational modes. The shaft generator allows the vessel to generate electricity from the main engine's rotational energy, decreasing the need to run auxiliary generators and thereby improving overall energy efficiency. This earlier retrofit demonstrates Berge Bulk's commitment to exploring multiple technological pathways to decarbonization, from power system optimizations to propulsion improvements and now carbon capture. The company appears to be pursuing a portfolio approach to innovation, recognizing that different technologies may be appropriate for different vessel types, operational profiles, and time horizons. This diversified innovation strategy hedges against the uncertainty inherent in emerging technologies while maximizing opportunities for emission reductions across various operational parameters. By implementing these technologies on active commercial vessels rather than test ships, Berge Bulk also generates valuable real-world performance data that can inform future investment decisions and technology refinements.

Industry Implications and Future Outlook

Berge Bulk's carbon capture initiative carries significant implications for the broader shipping industry. As one of the first commercial deployments of maritime carbon capture technology, the Berge Yotei installation will be closely watched by industry peers, regulators, and environmental stakeholders. The performance data generated will help answer critical questions about the technology's reliability, maintenance requirements, operational impacts, and cost-effectiveness in real-world conditions. If successful, this pilot project could accelerate industry adoption of similar systems, potentially establishing carbon capture as a standard component of maritime decarbonization strategies. The circular approach to captured carbon also demonstrates a pathway to creating value from emission reduction efforts, potentially improving the economic case for carbon capture investments. Looking forward, Berge Bulk's experience with this technology could inform the development of specialized carbon capture infrastructure at ports, creating more efficient systems for offloading, processing, and utilizing captured carbon. The company's comprehensive approach to decarbonization, combining efficiency improvements, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, also provides a potential roadmap for other shipping companies seeking to navigate the complex transition to lower-emission operations while maintaining commercial viability in a competitive global market.

Key Takeaways:

• Berge Bulk has installed an innovative carbon capture system on its Ultramax vessel that can trap up to 15 metric tons of CO₂ daily, potentially reducing emissions by 30% during vessel operations.

• The Filtree System developed by Value Maritime distinguishes itself from traditional scrubbers by removing both sulfur oxides and CO₂ from exhaust emissions, with the captured carbon stored in a reusable amine solution that can be offloaded at port for regeneration or industrial use.

• Berge Bulk's Maritime Marshall Plan includes ambitious decarbonization milestones: offsetting 100% of carbon emissions starting from 2025, operating a zero-emissions vessel by 2030, and achieving fleetwide zero carbon emissions by 2050, supported by both technological solutions and natural approaches like their program that has already planted 18.5 million trees.