Northern Lights orders third LNG-fuelled CO2 vessel from Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore

Northern Lights on Friday (1 September) announced the award of a shipbuilding contract to Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co., Ltd (DSOC). 

Northern Lights is developing a ship-based CO2 transport solution running on LNG fuel with a wind-assisted propulsion system and air lubrication. 

The contract covers the construction of Northern Lights’ third CO2 ship and will cater to existing and new customers.

The third ship will be built at the DSOC shipyard in Dalian, China, where the first two ships are currently under construction. It will share the same characteristics as its sister ships and have a cargo capacity of 7,500 m3. The three ships are the world’s largest dedicated CO2 ships, custom-built with pressurised cargo tanks for transportation of liquefied CO2.

The contract award was marked by a signing ceremony at the shipyard on 30 August, attended by Managing Director of Northern Lights, Børre Jacobsen.

“We are very pleased to announce that we are increasing our shipping capacity. Our shipping solution is scalable and provides the necessary flexibility to service industrial emitters across Europe. The award of a ship building contract for a third ship is a response to an increasing demand for cross-border CO2 transport and storage,” Jacobsen said in a statement. 

“As the construction base for the world largest and first dedicated CO2 ships for Northern Lights, DSOC is honoured to be the pioneer shipyard in the decarbonisation industry and to directly provide the CO2 shipping solutions for the increasing business of Northern Lights,” Yingzhi Sun, Chairman of DSOC, said. 

“Products in clean and environmental protection industry have now become our major strategy. As one of the most competitive offshore yards and the first yard to construct the dedicated CO2 ships, we have confidence and capability to deliver high quality products to Northern Lights, and build long-term strategic relationships in the upcoming future. DSOC will create more value to our clients by quality services and unremitting efforts.”

Once operational, the ship will load captured and liquefied CO2 from industrial emitters and transport it to the Northern Lights receiving facilities in Øygarden, Norway. From here, the CO2 will be intermediately stored in onshore tanks before transported through a pipeline to an offshore reservoir for permanent and safe storage at 2,600 m depth under the seabed.

Facts about the ship 

Capacity: 7,500 m3
Two cylindrical cargo tanks
Length: 130 meters
Cargo transport conditions: Approx. 15 bar(g) pressure and -26°C temperature

Photo credit: Northern Lights
Published: 4 September, 2023