Construction begins on world’s first large-scale liquid CO2 transport ships

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway — Construction has begun on the first two Northern Lights ships with a keel laying ceremony at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. yard in Dalian, China.

Keel laying is a ceremonial recognition of the ship building start in the construction dock at the shipyard and represents the placement of the first building block of a ship. The fabrication of the ships started in November 2022 with the first steel cut ceremony. 

“The keel laying is a major milestone in building the world’s first large scale LCO₂ [liquid carbon dioxide] transport ships. In 2024 the ships will be launched from the dock at the shipyard in China and will sail to the Northern Lights facilities in Norway, ready for operations,” said Børre Jacobsen, managing director with Northern Lights.

The ships will have a cargo capacity of 7,500 cu. m, length of 130 m and will be operated by “K” LINE on behalf of Northern Lights. The ships are specifically designed to transport liquefied CO₂ in purpose-built cargo tanks from industrial emitters in Norway and Europe to the onshore receiving facilities in Øygarden, Norway.

Northern Lights said it is the world’s first open-source CO₂ transportation and storage operator, ready to receive CO₂ from European industrial emitters in 2024.

04.14.2023