Climate technology company Bennu Climate and maritime innovation venture catalyst lomarlabs have begun a 12-month at sea trial of a methane removal system on a 57,000-dwt Lomar supramax bulk carrier. 

The compact, 1 cu m, 50 kg device can be installed in a day and operates without disrupting normal trading. 

Using advanced UV driven photochemistry, it destroys methane molecules before they enter the atmosphere, targeting both fugitive emissions during voyages and methane slip from LNG fuelled engines.

 The trial follows  dockside tests in 2024 and marks the first deployment under real commercial operating conditions. 

The latest pilot on a Lomar vessel comes as countries and trading blocs have prioritised methane reductions across industries.

“This pilot represents a paradigm shift for our industry. We are putting technology on ships not only to cut their own emissions but to actively remove excess greenhouse gas from the atmosphere as they sail,” said Stylianos Papageorgiou, Managing Director of lomarlabs. 

“We’re proud to back innovators like Bennu who turn bold ideas into real world climate tools.”

“Nothing can turn back the climate clock faster than methane removal,” said David Wallace, Bennu Founder and CEO. “Bennu’s innovation has the potential to reduce shipping companies’ costs and regulatory taxes while playing a critical role in the industry’s efforts to reduce its climate impact.”