Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, and shipping company Nippon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) has won the Approval in Principle from ClassNK for the joint development of CO2 transport technology for liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers.
Last year, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, along with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines had completed a concept study on LCO2 carriers. The companies say the carriers will play an important role in the Carbon dioxide Capture Utilization and Storage value chain for the transportation of captured and liquefied CO2 to storage areas.
LCO2 carriers will use a cargo tank system to hold liquefied CO2 at low temperature and high pressure.
Jointly, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and NYK Line will overcome the technical challenges to building LCO2 carriers for future mass transportation. The feasibility and compliance with regulations and standards were confirmed for the cargo tank system and hull section.
The MHI Group expects that the grant of the AiP for a large carrier will contribute to realizing the promotion and commercialization of the LCO2 carriers and further align with its goal to strengthen the energy transition business.
NYK Line expects the technology to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. Based on the LCO2 carrier designed with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, NYK Line will promote its participation in the CCUS value chain. It will do so by studying the design of the LCO2 carrier for every project.
The firms will leverage their expertise to advance this development and continue to build the various technologies necessary for the development of the CCUS value chain. The ultimate aim is the realisation of a carbon-neutral society.
