Seabound Secures £1.1 Million Grant to Advance Carbon Capture for Shipping
Seabound, a UK-based climate-tech startup specializing in modular onboard carbon capture systems for ships, has secured a £1.1 million grant from the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6). The funding will support a groundbreaking collaboration with STAX Engineering and Associated British Ports (ABP) to deploy a fully integrated emissions and carbon capture solution at the Port of Southampton.
Founded in 2021, Seabound has developed compact, containerized systems that attach directly to ships’ exhausts. These systems can capture up to 95% of CO₂ and 98% of sulfur emissions, while being cost-effective and retrofittable across different vessel types. This innovation allows shipowners to comply with tightening global emissions regulations without significant retrofitting costs or downtime.
Earlier this year, Seabound successfully piloted its technology aboard the UBC Cork, a 5,700 GT cement carrier owned by Hartmann Group. The captured CO₂ was converted into limestone and delivered to Heidelberg Materials’ Brevik cement plant in Norway, where it was used as feedstock for net-zero concrete production. This demonstration marked the world’s first instance of ship-based carbon capture integrated directly with a cement supply chain.
The Port of Southampton project represents another milestone. Working with ABP, the initiative will see emissions capture barges equipped with STAX’s pollutant filtration and Seabound’s carbon capture systems. The solution will enable ships to reduce emissions while docked, improving air quality in port communities and cutting carbon footprints without costly vessel retrofits.
The grant will fund technology refinement, deployment preparation, and the groundwork for scaling the solution across ABP’s network. Southampton is set to become the first UK port to trial such a combined system, reinforcing its position as a leader in maritime decarbonization.
Seabound has already built a strong track record of innovation. Previous trials with shipping leaders demonstrated capture efficiencies of around 80%, and the company has also tested port-based solutions in the United States. With each success, Seabound strengthens its position as a pioneer in providing scalable, retrofit-ready solutions to one of the world’s hardest-to-decarbonize sectors.
To date, the company has raised $6.8 million in venture capital from investors including Lowercarbon Capital, Y Combinator, Eastern Pacific Shipping, and Collaborative Fund, alongside £2.3 million in government grants. The new £1.1 million award further validates its momentum and the growing recognition of carbon capture as a practical solution for shipping.
At the helm is Alisha Fredriksson, Co-Founder and CEO, who has set an ambitious vision: capturing 100 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2040—equivalent to 10% of global shipping emissions. “Our mission is to provide solutions that work today, not tomorrow,” said Fredriksson. “By making carbon capture modular, affordable, and scalable, we can accelerate the transition to net-zero shipping.”
With its proven pilot projects, strategic port partnerships, and growing financial backing, Seabound is well positioned to lead the next chapter of maritime decarbonization. Its modular carbon capture systems offer shipowners and port operators a clear, cost-effective pathway to meet global emissions targets while safeguarding competitiveness.
As international regulations tighten and demand for sustainable shipping solutions accelerates, Seabound’s innovations are setting a new standard for clean maritime technology—bringing the industry closer to a net-zero future.
