Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has entered into a large-scale offtake agreement for carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal using Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology developed by climate tech firm Captura. Under the deal, MOL will purchase 30,000 carbon removal credits, to be delivered by Captura’s first commercial-scale DOC facility by 2030. The move supports MOL’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Captura’s DOC technology harnesses electrochemical processes to extract CO₂ directly from seawater, increasing the ocean’s natural capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The company has already demonstrated the technology at three pilot plants, and early design work is underway for its first commercial facility, which is expected to capture between 30,000 and 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
In addition to the carbon credit purchase, MOL and Captura have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining plans for a strategic partnership to deploy DOC plants globally. Captura intends to license its technology to partners who will construct and operate these large-scale facilities.
MOL’s venture capital arm, MOL Switch, has also made an equity investment in Captura, as part of its broader strategy to support technologies with the potential to decarbonise the maritime and energy sectors.
“At MOL, we are committed to supporting innovative decarbonisation technologies that align with our long-term sustainability ambitions,” said Tomoaki Ichida, CEO of MOL Switch. “Direct Ocean Capture offers a promising and scalable solution for carbon removal, and our partnership with Captura is both an environmental step forward and a strategic business investment.”
The announcement follows the successful launch of Captura’s third pilot facility in Hawaii, which began operations two months ago. This latest installation is capturing CO₂ at a rate of 1,000 tonnes per year—building on earlier 1-tonne and 100-tonne systems tested in California—and marks the final stage in the company’s pilot programme.
Captura’s Chief Executive, Steve Oldham, said: “Our strategy has always focused on demonstrating that our technology can scale reliably and affordably. The successful operations of our 1,000-tonne pilot plant validate our readiness for commercial deployment. This agreement with MOL is a key milestone in bringing Direct Ocean Capture to the global carbon removal market.”
Captura previously secured a pre-purchase agreement in 2022 from Frontier Climate, acting on behalf of Stripe and Shopify, valued at $500,000. That deal supported early development of the DOC technology, with removal to be fulfilled by a future Captura facility.
