NYK to capture emissions from car carriers in California

(TOKYO) — NYK has concluded an agreement with STAX Engineering, a U.S. company specializing in maritime emissions capture and control, to use its technology to recover exhaust gases from ships. NYK will recover exhaust emissions at berth from NYK-operated car carriers calling at ports in California starting in January 2025.

The initiative is in response to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) expanded exhaust emission regulations for vessels calling at ports in the state. The total amount of potential payment between NYK and STAX is $16 million.

NYK Group photo

Emissions capture and control technology uses steel pipes and hoses to connect a barge, a small flat-bottomed ship, or a land-based exhaust-gas treatment system to a vessel’s funnel, allowing exhaust gases to be captured without venting into the air. This technology makes capturing and controlling exhaust gases possible without installing additional equipment on the vessel.

CARB established emission regulations for oceangoing vessels in 2007. In 2014, CARB mandated that oceangoing containerships, passenger ships and other vessels calling at California ports reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), reactive gases (ROG), carbon dioxide, particulate matter (PM) and diesel particulate matter (DPM) while at berth.

CARB plans to add car carriers and tankers to this regulation in 2025, making it an urgent issue to be addressed.

– NYK Group

By Professional Mariner Staff