Carbon-Capturing Cement Ship Transforms CO2 Into Building Materials

A carbon-capturing cement ship that sails and cleans as it moves

A new innovation is turning heads in the maritime and construction industries: a carbon-capturing cement ship that transforms pollution into building materials while in motion. As climate concerns rise, both shipping and cement manufacturing—two of the world’s most carbon-intensive sectors—face mounting pressure to reduce their emissions. Enter Seabound, a London-based startup that’s reimagining carbon capture at sea. Their technology converts exhaust carbon dioxide into limestone—a key cement ingredient—aboard the UBC Cork, a working cargo ship. This floating solution doesn’t just promise lower emissions; it contributes directly to the production of sustainable cement.

Image Credits:Trondheim Havn /Wikimedia Commons under a CC BY 2.0  license.

How the carbon-capturing cement ship technology works

Seabound’s breakthrough lies in a modular retrofit system that can be installed on existing ships. Rather than overhauling the engine or switching to costly fuels like ammonia, Seabound attaches a carbon capture unit to the ship’s exhaust. As the vessel operates, the unit captures CO2 and reacts it with calcium to form solid limestone pellets. These are stored on board and offloaded once the ship docks—ready to be used in cement production. This practical, closed-loop approach eliminates the need for onboard storage of harmful gases or reliance on external energy infrastructure. It makes the carbon-capturing cement ship not only an emissions reducer but a value generator for the construction supply chain.

Shipping and cement: Two industries in urgent need of change

Both global shipping and cement manufacturing are major contributors to climate change. Maritime transport accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while cement is responsible for nearly 8%—mainly due to the energy-intensive chemical reactions that produce Portland cement. Traditional fixes have struggled with scale and practicality. Electrification isn’t feasible for long-haul shipping, and alternative fuels require significant infrastructure changes. Meanwhile, carbon capture in cement plants is still evolving. Seabound’s innovation stands out because it addresses both challenges at once. It captures emissions during the shipping of cement and repurposes that waste as raw material for more cement—essentially creating a low-emissions feedback loop.

Why this carbon-capturing cement ship matters for climate goals

The timing couldn’t be more critical. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set aggressive targets: reducing maritime greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and 65% by 2040. To meet these goals, scalable and cost-effective technologies are essential. The carbon-capturing cement ship concept is a prime example of how industry-specific solutions can contribute meaningfully. It aligns with the real-world constraints of ship operators and manufacturers while addressing sustainability from both ends—transport and production. The ship's current journey through the Mediterranean and eventual delivery to Heidelberg Materials’ net-zero plant in Norway is more than a proof of concept. It’s a sign that climate innovation is no longer limited to land—it’s sailing across oceans, one clean voyage at a time.

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