According to shipowner Solvang, the Clipper Eris should see its greenhouse gas emissions reduced by up to 70 percent.

During a retrofit at a Singapore shipyard, the vessel, a 160-metre-long ethylene carrier, was fitted with an exhaust filtering system that captures CO2.

The CO2 is then liquefied and stored in tanks on board to either be buried in rock or used for other industrial purposes.

"Onboard carbon capture combined with existing cleaning technology is a significant shortcut to decarbonisation of the world's deep-sea fleet," Solvang CEO Edvin Endresen said in a statement Thursday.

"This stands out as one of the more promising solutions for future vessels," he added.

International maritime transport is responsible for between two and three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but decarbonising it is a struggle due to technological hurdles and the international nature of the sector.

However, member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have adopted a strategy aimed at reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 20 to 30 percent by 2030, 70 to 80 percent by 2040 and to zero by 2050.

The Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) technology installed on the Clipper Eris is a pilot project.

Solvang has another seven ships currently under construction that have been designed to potentially be equipped with the system, the company said.

"The introduction of carbon capture and storage capabilities on board the Clipper Eris is a major leap forward for maritime sustainability," said Roger Holm, president of Finnish ship engine maker Wartsila -- a partner in the project.