SeaARCTOS ARCTOS-1 Gains LR Approval for CO2 Monitoring

Lloyd’s Register Approves ARCTOS-1 Emissions Monitor

SeaARCTOS, a provider of real-time shipboard emissions monitoring technology, has been granted Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for its ARCTOS-1™ system, covering carbon dioxide monitoring and reporting. According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the approval also extends to the device’s broader capability of tracking sulphur dioxide and methane exhaust emissions.

The ARCTOS-1™ is described as a MARPOL-approved, globally patented stack-mounted device that continuously measures CO2, SO2 and CH4 output. Notably compact, it weighs under 3.5 kg, is roughly the size of a shoebox, and draws its power from waste exhaust heat rather than an external source. SeaARCTOS says the unit has logged more than 20,000 hours of at-sea testing and can be fitted in under an hour without welding, cutting, or specialist tools.

Why Verified Data Matters for Compliance

Fredrik Fuglesang, CEO of SeaARCTOS, framed the approval within the wider regulatory push under FuelEU Maritime, the EU Emissions Trading System, and the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework. He noted that these frameworks depend heavily on enforcement, and that tamper-resistant, consistent monitoring gives regulators, port authorities, and flag states the evidence needed to penalize non-compliance or reward vessels that exceed requirements.

Fuglesang also argued the technology benefits compliant operators directly: it reduces the risk of unfair competition from non-compliant peers, minimizes exposure to penalties based on estimated rather than actual emissions, and can lower the likelihood of delays from in-port compliance checks.

Tianxiang Li, Global Technical Support Office Director at Lloyd’s Register, said the Type Approval offers independent assurance that the system is ready to support the industry as emissions regulations continue to develop.

Built-In Safeguards Against Tampering and Spoofing

The system includes an alarm designed to notify both port authorities and SeaARCTOS if the device is interfered with. Emissions and location data are captured at regular intervals, encrypted, and relayed via satellite to a cloud-based platform. A location-locked tracking feature is also built into the interface specifically to guard against AIS spoofing, and the resulting dashboard can be accessed remotely from any internet-connected device.

Broader Implications for Owners, Financiers and Charterers

Beyond regulatory reporting, the source material points to wider uses for this kind of verified emissions data. Port authorities and flag states need affordable, reliable systems to manage the volume of real-time data compliance regimes generate, and audit-ready records reduce the administrative burden of enforcement. Financiers, including signatories to the Poseidon Principles, could use such data to check how well their ship-finance portfolios align with climate commitments — potentially translating into better financing terms for greener vessels. Charterers and shippers pursuing their own ESG and Scope 3 reduction targets may also value transparent, vessel-level emissions performance data when selecting tonnage.

What This Means for Survey and Inspection Practice

For ship owners and technical managers, the arrival of independently type-approved, continuous emissions monitoring adds a new layer to the compliance toolkit that sits alongside traditional survey and inspection work. Where bunker surveys and condition assessments have historically focused on fuel quantity, quality, and machinery condition at discrete points in time, systems like ARCTOS-1™ point toward continuous, verifiable emissions data streams becoming part of a vessel’s operational record. This raises a practical question for operators: as flag states and port authorities gain access to tamper-proof, real-time emissions evidence, will survey and inspection regimes increasingly need to cross-reference monitoring data with physical bunker and engine room inspections to build a complete compliance picture? Owners investing in this kind of technology should also consider how it integrates with existing survey documentation and reporting workflows, rather than treating it as a standalone system.

As FuelEU Maritime, the EU ETS, and a possible IMO Net-Zero Framework continue to reshape compliance obligations, independently verified monitoring tools are likely to become a more routine feature of due diligence for owners, charterers, and financiers alike.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.