In a bold move that underscores its commitment to maritime decarbonisation, Berge Bulk has successfully installed and commissioned a shipboard carbon capture system aboard its 63,000 DWT Ultramax vessel, Berge Yotei. The installation marks a significant milestone in the company’s flagship Maritime Marshall Plan, a comprehensive strategy to achieve net-zero emissions across its fleet.
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Cutting-Edge Carbon Capture Technology at Sea
Developed in collaboration with maritime technology firm Value Maritime, the system — known as the Filtree System — integrates a hybrid scrubber that not only eliminates sulphur oxides (SOₓ) but also captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the vessel’s exhaust. This next-generation exhaust gas cleaning technology is capable of capturing up to 15 tonnes of CO₂ per day, translating to a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions during voyage operations.
The system operates by absorbing CO₂ into a reusable amine solution, which can then be offloaded in port for regeneration and industrial reuse, including in agriculture (such as greenhouses), beverage carbonation, or other manufacturing sectors. This positions the system not merely as a compliance tool, but as a bridge toward a circular carbon economy, where emissions are not just eliminated but productively repurposed.
CEO Statement: Decarbonising on Land and Sea
“Carbon capture is a key pillar of our decarbonisation strategy,” stated James Marshall, CEO of Berge Bulk. “While we remain committed to optimising fleet efficiency, adopting new fuels, and investing in future technologies, we must also capture the carbon that we cannot yet eliminate. We’ve long been committed to nature-based carbon removal onshore. With Berge Yotei, we’re now demonstrating that shipboard capture is both viable and impactful.”
Long-Term Vision Meets Practical Implementation
Berge Bulk’s focus on decarbonisation is neither recent nor reactive. The company’s climate journey dates back to 2021 when it committed to planting 25 million trees globally through reforestation initiatives — a goal that is already 74% fulfilled with 18.5 million trees planted as of end-2024.
By proactively trialling onboard carbon capture, Berge Bulk is offering tangible insights for the broader maritime sector, especially as regulators like the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union develop frameworks around carbon pricing and emissions trading (e.g., MARPOL Annex VI and the EU Emissions Trading System).
The Maritime Marshall Plan: A Structured Path to Zero
The Berge Yotei pilot forms part of the company’s comprehensive Maritime Marshall Plan, a strategic framework built on four decarbonisation pillars:
- Relentless improvement in fleet efficiency
- Adoption of cutting-edge maritime technologies
- Transition to low- and zero-carbon fuels
- Capture of residual carbon through onboard technologies and nature-based solutions
Under this plan, Berge Bulk has committed to three major climate milestones:
- Offset 100% of fleet emissions from 2025 onwards
- Launch and operate a zero-emissions vessel by 2030
- Achieve zero-carbon emissions fleetwide by 2050
Collaboration is Critical
Berge Bulk underscores that decarbonisation at scale requires more than isolated initiatives. The company is calling for collaboration across governments, ports, regulatory bodies, and technology developers to ensure that supportive infrastructure, standards, and commercial frameworks evolve in parallel with innovation.
“The success of carbon capture at sea depends not just on technology, but on a coordinated ecosystem, Ports must prepare for carbon offloading; regulators must support safe and scalable deployment; and industry players must work together to build a truly sustainable shipping future.”
About Berge Bulk
Founded in 2007 with a modest fleet of 12 vessels, Berge Bulk has since grown into one of the world’s largest independent dry bulk carriers. The company now operates and manages over 100 vessels, representing an owned deadweight capacity of more than 15 million tonnes. Known for operational excellence, safety, and innovation, Berge Bulk is on a mission to lead global shipping toward a zero-carbon future. Safe | Efficient | Sustainable
Source Barge Bulk