Working in collaboration with H-Deux, Scotline Ltd, and Better Boats, the FlexiCapture system is designed to capture and reduce pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions directly from the ship’s exhaust. FlexiCapture offers a space-efficient, integrated solution which is well-suited to those vessels with limited retrofit flexibility.
The study will evaluate the technical and economic viability of integrating FlexiCapture into vessel operations, including both retrofit and newbuild pathways. Solis Marine will provide naval architecture expertise, detailed engineering feasibility analysis, and design optimisation to ensure the safe and effective system integration.
H-Deux will lead system development, modelling, and testing, with Scotline Ltd providing access to operational data and vessels, and Better Boats will offer regulatory guidance and classification insight.
The study will also involve real-world performance assessments using operational emission data, along with early engagement with classification advisors to map a route toward ‘Approval in Principle’ (AiP).
Importantly, the project recognises the often overlooked need to address the existing fleet, not just future vessels. While industry focus remains heavily on new fuels and technologies, tens of thousands of diesel-powered ships will remain in service for decades. Repowering these vessels with new engines is rarely viable at scale. By demonstrating a retrofit solution like FlexiCapture, this project could bridge the critical transition period over the next 20-25 years, effectively backdating future energy solutions to today’s fleet.
The outcomes will include a validated design, a commercialisation roadmap, and a clear technical pathway for reducing maritime greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also generate valuable knowledge on integration feasibility, which will be shared with the wider maritime industry and regulatory stakeholders to accelerate the transition to clean shipping.
This project supports the UK's ambition for a zero-emission maritime sector by accelerating the adoption of practical emission reduction technologies. The solution aligns with the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) focus on vessels over 24 metres, retrofitting, and modular systems that are scalable and commercially viable.
This project is funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £230m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the main delivery partner for UK SHORE interventions.
