Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group; Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K LINE); Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL); Nihon Shipyard Co. Ltd., a joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corp.; Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line); Mitsui & Co. Ltd.; and Mitsubishi Corp. have jointly acquired Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai for two types of low-pressure liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carriers under their joint development.
A presentation ceremony took place on Sept. 17 at Gastech 2024, in Houston, Tex.
Demand for LCO2 carriers is expected to grow in tandem with various carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects involving overseas transportation of CO2 captured in Japan. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Nihon Shipyard, Mitsui & Co., and Mitsubishi Corp. have collaborated to achieve standardization of LCO2 carriers suited for use by multiple projects, and to establish a supply chain in order to build and supply LCO2 carriers consistently within Japan.
The two LCO2 carriers that received AiP certifications are low-pressure type 50,000 cu m-class and 23,000 cu m-class vessels developed for long-distance ocean voyages.