Business Sectors
Business Sectors
Events
Contents
HamiltonJet LTX53: Greater control where offshore wind crews need it mostSponsored by HamiltonJet
Register to read more articles.
Pair of LCO2 carrier designs granted AiP with launch targeted in 2028
A consortium of Japanese firms have received approval in principle for standardised, low-pressure LCO2 carriers
A Japanese consortium has acquired an approval in principle (AiP) from classification societies American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for two types of low-pressure liquefied CO2 carriers under joint development.
Mitsubishi Corp, Nihon Shipyard and Mitsui & Co and other consortium members are pushing for standardised LCO2 carriers suited for use in multiple projects, and to establish a supply chain to build and supply these vessels within Japan, with large-scale transport beginning 2028.
The two LCO2 carriers that received AiP certifications are low-pressure 50,000-m3 and 23,000-m3 vessels developed for long-distance ocean voyages.
The AiP and subsequent presentation ceremony took place at the recently concluded Gastech 2024 trade conference in Houston, Texas.
Consortium members include Mitsui & Co, Mitsui OSK Lines, Nihon Shipyard Co (a joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corp), NYK Line, K Line, Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, both part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group.
Demand for LCO2 carriers is expected to grow in tandem with various carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) projects involving transporting CO2, including projects that will capture emissions in Japan and sequestered them at storage sites overseas.
Shipping is expected to invest in hundreds of such vessels in the decades ahead to meet the demand for maritime transport for CO2 storage.
Scaling the LCO2 shipping market
Speaking at Riviera’s CO2 Shipping, Terminals & CCS Conference, in Houston on 16 September, Clarksons green transition group senior technical advisor, Johan Tutturen said there has to be a dramatic scaling in the numbers of LCO2 carriers, pointing out there are four ships currently in the global fleet trading CO2; the largest of which has a capacity of 1,800 m3.
Two newbuild 7,500-m3 LCO2 carriers for Norway’s Northern Lights carbon capture project will join the fleet in 2024, the first of which is undergoing sea trials. Two other sister ships are on order at Dalian Shipbuilding in China.
Last year, Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Gas placed orders for 22,000-m3 LCO2 carriers with a delivery date set for 2025-2026.
Mitsui said it aims to begin a CCS business in the near future. The company did not specify details but said initiatives include a contracted survey project relating to a feasibility survey on Japanese advanced CCS projects promoted by the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security in 2023.
A press statement from the company said, “We will actively use its knowledge of energy value chain development, including the development of energy resources, and its extensive business networks to contribute to the creation of an eco-friendly society by providing CO2 reduction solutions through our global CCS business.”
Sign up for Riviera’s series of technical and operational webinars and conferences:
- Register to attend by visiting our events page.
- Watch recordings from all of our webinars in the webinar library.
Related to this Story
Events
Maritime Regulations Webinar Week
16 Dec 2025
GMT - ONLINE
Floating energy: successfully unlocking stranded gas using FLNGs and FSRUs
24 Feb 2026GMT - ONLINE
© 2026 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.
