Breakthrough Onboard Carbon Capture Hits 98% Efficiency in Real-World Shipping Trial

A groundbreaking pilot project has demonstrated the effectiveness of onboard carbon capture technology for shipping. Carbon Ridge’s system, installed on a Scorpio Tankers vessel, achieved CO₂ capture rates of up to 98% under real-world conditions. The results were independently verified by classification society DNV, marking a first for centrifugal carbon capture at sea. The trial took place aboard the STI Spiga, a 109,999 dwt LR2 product tanker owned by Scorpio Tankers. The system was fitted during a scheduled drydock at Besiktas Shipyard in Türkiye in July 2025. Over the following five months, the vessel continued normal commercial operations while the technology was tested.

DNV conducted the verification under its Recommended Practice for onboard carbon capture systems. Their assessment found peak capture rates exceeding 98%, with over half of all observations falling between 86% and 98%. This performance positions Carbon Ridge as the first company to successfully deploy and validate a centrifugal OCCS system in commercial maritime conditions. Chase Dwyer, CEO and founder of Carbon Ridge, stated that the results prove the company’s modular centrifugal technology can drastically cut vessel emissions. Scorpio Tankers’ Chief Operating Officer, Cameron Mackey, added that the findings reinforce onboard carbon capture as a viable solution for shipowners facing tighter carbon regulations. DNV’s Head of Onboard Carbon Capture, Chara Georgopoulou, emphasised that independently verified capture rates are critical for building commercially viable business models in this sector.

The pilot confirms that centrifugal carbon capture can achieve high efficiency in real-world shipping operations. With DNV’s validation, the technology moves closer to wider adoption as the industry seeks compliance with stricter emissions rules. The project also establishes a benchmark for future onboard carbon capture deployments.