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Value Maritime will supply two 15MW Filtree systems to Neptune Lines as the Greek short sea car carrier operator moves to cut exhaust emissions and prepare two vessels for future onboard carbon capture.
The systems will be installed on the pure car and truck carriers Neptune Tharros and Neptune Ethos, two sister vessels in Neptune Lines’ fleet. Each vessel has capacity for 4,700 RT, according to the companies.
The retrofit marks Value Maritime’s first installation in the PCTC segment, a market where fleet operators are under pressure to reduce emissions while keeping vessels available for tightly scheduled automotive logistics.
First PCTC installation for Filtree
The Filtree unit is an exhaust gas cleaning system designed to reduce sulphur oxide emissions and particulate matter. Value Maritime said the system meets the 98% SOx removal requirement for operations in Sulphur Emission Control Areas.
The company also said the system can remove 90% of PM2.5 particulate matter and 99% of PM10 particles. For short sea car carriers that regularly call at European ports, those numbers matter because emissions rules are increasingly linked to port access, charter decisions and customer reporting.
The units selected by Neptune Lines are Value Maritime’s next generation 15MW configuration. Installation is planned for summer 2026 in the Mediterranean.
In practical terms, the retrofit gives Neptune Lines an emissions reduction tool now, while leaving space onboard for a later carbon capture upgrade. That reserved space is important. A ship retrofit is rarely as simple as fitting a new box into an empty room. It is more like adding a new engine room function into a working factory that cannot stop production for long.
Carbon capture ready, not yet carbon capture fitted
The two systems will be carbon capture ready, meaning they are designed so Value Maritime’s Carbon Capture Duct can be integrated later.
That distinction is important for operators and cargo owners tracking decarbonisation claims. The vessels are not being described as carbon capture equipped at this stage. They are being prepared for that option as the technology, port infrastructure and commercial case develop.
Maarten Lodewijks, co-founder and director of Value Maritime, said the agreement brings the company into a new vessel segment.
“Just like Neptune Lines, we are passionate about making a positive impact. Entering the PCTC market and installing our emission-reducing technology on board these vessels is an exciting step,” Lodewijks said.
He added that wider adoption across vessel types would support the company’s goal of more sustainable shipping. He also pointed to Greece as a market Value Maritime has been developing, with the agreement signed ahead of Posidonia in Athens in June.
Neptune links retrofit to fleet strategy
Neptune Lines operates finished vehicle services across Europe, the Far East and the United States. Its fleet handles cars, high and heavy vehicles, construction and agricultural equipment, oversized machinery and static cargo using roll trailers.
That mix gives the company a direct role in automotive and rolling cargo supply chains, where shippers increasingly ask carriers to show credible emissions reduction steps.
George Kriezis, technical director at Neptune Lines, said the project forms part of the company’s broader decarbonisation strategy.
“Neptune Lines is committed to continuously improving the environmental performance of our fleet. Our goal is the delivery of all cargo in the most cost and carbon-efficient way,” Kriezis said.
He said the partnership allows Neptune Lines to implement a practical and future ready solution that reduces emissions while maintaining operational efficiency.
Retrofit market gains another vessel type
The agreement also signals how emissions technology suppliers are widening their target market beyond tankers, container ships and general cargo vessels.
For PCTC operators, the challenge is specific. Vehicle carriers need reliable schedules, port rotation flexibility and cargo capacity. Any retrofit must avoid taking away too much space or adding complexity that affects daily operations.
Value Maritime said the compact design of Filtree is intended to maximise exhaust gas cleaning performance while limiting footprint. The companies said close cooperation will support the retrofit process on Neptune Tharros and Neptune Ethos.
The project comes as European short sea operators face a layered regulatory environment, including stricter emissions controls, customer pressure for lower carbon logistics and the need to prepare existing vessels for future compliance.
For Neptune Lines, the immediate operational gain is reduced SOx and particulate emissions. The longer term option is a vessel platform that can be upgraded for onboard carbon capture when the business case and infrastructure are ready.
