Northern Lights: First LNG-fueled LCO2 carrier ready for work

Northern Lights, a joint venture (JV) of energy majors Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies, has revealed that Northern Pioneer, the first in a fleet of four liquefied CO2 (LCO2) transport ships, is ready for delivery.

As disclosed, the vessel, which is built by Chinese Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC), is a part of the largest dedicated CO2 shipping fleet globally. It will transport liquefied CO2 from a CO2 capture facility in Norway to the Northern Lights’ receiving terminal in Øygarden, western Norway.

The ship boasts a length of 130 meters, a width of 21 meters, and a cargo tank capacity of 7,500 cbm. It will run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature a wind-assisted propulsion system and air lubrication. The wind propulsion system will be provided by Finnish rotor sail manufacturer Norsepower.

By combining LNG-powered propulsion with wind-assisted technology and air lubrication, the company expects that the LCO2 carriers will have around 34% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional ships running on marine fuel.

To remind, in September this year, Northern Pioneer, which Japanese shipping company K Line will manage, completed its sea trials.

Northern Lights is the first company to offer commercial CO2 transport and storage as a service. The CO2 receiving facility in Øygarden, Norway, was completed in September and is now ready to receive CO2 from Norwegian and European industries.

“We are delighted to have reached a significant milestone for the Northern Lights value chain making the first step in our journey. With our extensive knowledge and experience in the operation of various liquefied gas carriers, the “K” LINE Group is determined to work together to contribute to Europe’s decarbonization through safe and reliable liquefied CO₂ transportation,” said Yukikazu Myochin, President and CEO of K Line.

Lin Jiming, the Vice President of DSIC, emphasized the company’s continued commitment to collaborating with Northern Lights to help achieve their CCS objectives.

Tim Heijn, the Managing Director of Northern Lights, highlighted that the full CO2 transport and storage chain of Northern Lights is now ready and added that the Northern Pioneer, along with its sister ships, will enable flexible and scalable CO2 transport across Europe.