MITSUI O.S.K. Lines and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have been granted approval in principle for the design of a 50,000 cubic metre liquefied CO2 carrier.
The AiP was awarded by classification society DNV, who said the approval confirmed the design was considered feasible and that no major “showstoppers” would prevent the concept from being realised.
MOL and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding developed the LCO2 vessel together, with the concept study completed in November last year.
The focus of DNV’s assessment was the DNV Rules on Liquified gas tankers and the IGC Code.
Makoto Yamaguchi, executive officer and chief technical officer at MOL, said the AiP award is a milestone in the group strategy to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
“Through this demonstration project, we will further accelerate our R&D initiatives on liquefied CO2 transport, contributing to the realisation of a low- and decarbonised society,” he said.
Toru Kitamura, president of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, said the company believes LCO2 carriers are essential pieces in the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chain.
“We will continuously move forward the technology development of LCO2 carriers in co-operation with partners seeking to achieve the shipping industry’s decarbonisation goals,” he said.
And Vidar Dolonen, regional manager at DNV Maritime Korea & Japan, said CCUS is gaining traction around the world as technology that helps reduce the impact of carbon emissions.
“Maritime transport can play an essential role in building up an efficient CCUS value chain, which is expected to lead to an increasing demand for specialised LCO2 carriers going forward,” he said.
The AiP presentation ceremony took place at Gastech 2022, an international conference on global energy and environmental issues, in Milan, Italy.
