NYK Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Hokkaido Electric Power for Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project

NYK has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. (HEPCO) to launch a demonstration project in Tomakomai, Japan, focused on onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) technologies. Through this agreement, both companies will collaborate on feasibility studies aimed at advancing the decarbonization of maritime transport.

In the global maritime industry, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from operating vessels is a critical step toward achieving a low-carbon society. OCCS—technology that captures, liquefies, and stores CO₂, the primary greenhouse gas emitted by ships—has gained increasing attention as a viable solution. However, several challenges remain, including efficient handling and storage of captured CO₂, suitable offloading methods, and downstream processing.

Tomakomai has positioned itself as a key hub for carbon neutrality, already hosting large-scale CCS demonstration projects and ongoing research to address these issues. Leveraging this foundation, NYK—actively pursuing decarbonization in international shipping—and HEPCO—a leader in developing CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) value chains—have agreed to combine their expertise to jointly explore the implementation of an OCCS demonstration project.

As part of this initiative, NYK and HEPCO will carry out studies over a three-year period, through fiscal year 2028, focusing on the design and operation of demonstration equipment to be installed on the coal carrier Pirika Moshiri Maru, owned by NYK and operated for HEPCO. The study will also examine effective methods for unloading captured CO₂, as well as potential pathways for its utilization. Through these joint efforts under the MoU, NYK seeks to advance its expertise in OCCS technologies and support their wider adoption in society, contributing to the broader goal of achieving a decarbonized future.