GCMD Completes World’s First Pilot Demonstrating Full Carbon Value Chain from Ship-Captured CO2 in China

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has successfully carried out the world’s first maritime pilot to demonstrate the full value chain for onboard captured carbon dioxide, concluding the operation in China on 25 June 2025.

The initiative was conducted in two main phases, beginning with the transfer of 25.44 metric tons of CO2 captured from the container vessel MV Ever Top to the receiving vessel Dejin 26. This ship-to-ship operation was managed by Shanghai Qiyao Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (SMDERI-QET). Following the transfer, the CO2 was offloaded from Dejin 26 to a tank truck at a jetty in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province.

In the second phase, led by GCMD, the liquefied CO2 (LCO2) was transported over 2,000 kilometers to Inner Mongolia. There, it was used at a joint venture facility operated by GreenOre and Baotou Steel to produce low-carbon calcium carbonate, a material increasingly used in sustainable construction applications.

This project marks the first time ship-captured CO2 has been repurposed for industrial use at this scale, integrating maritime carbon capture with broader decarbonisation efforts on land. It highlights the growing potential for cross-sector collaboration in building an end-to-end carbon value chain.

According to GCMD, real progress in maritime decarbonisation hinges not only on the ability to capture carbon onboard vessels but also on developing the infrastructure required for safe offloading, transport, and productive reuse of that CO2. Findings from GCMD’s COLOSSUS study indicate that utilising captured CO2 in concrete-related applications offers some of the highest greenhouse gas savings among current reuse pathways, primarily by displacing carbon-intensive cement.

The pilot also served as a practical testbed for navigating regulatory and logistical challenges. One of the significant barriers addressed was the regulatory classification of captured CO2. Initially designated as “hazardous waste,” the material could not be reused. However, through engagement with authorities, it was reclassified as “hazardous cargo,” enabling its use as an industrial feedstock.

Stakeholder coordination was central to the pilot’s success. Evergreen Marine Corp, SMDERI-QET, Dejin Shipping, and the industrial partners GreenOre and Baorong Environmental Co. Ltd. all played key roles. The initiative also received critical support from port and regulatory authorities, including the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Shanghai International Port Group, Shanghai Customs, and Shanghai Border Inspection.

GCMD will now undertake a full life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the emissions implications of the pilot. DNV has been engaged to conduct independent third-party verification of the emissions data, ensuring alignment with internationally recognised carbon accounting frameworks.

This pilot sets a precedent for integrating ship-based carbon capture into wider decarbonisation strategies and is expected to inform future policy, infrastructure development, and investment in carbon utilisation technologies.