• This project is a major milestone for the CCS industry.
• Northern Pioneer smoothly transports liquefied CO2 across Europe to its delivery site safely.

Northern Lights, a carbon capture and storage (CCS) company, has launched its first carbon dioxide (CO2) transport ship, Northern Pioneer, which is all set for transporting CO2.

Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. built the ship in China; it is one of four ships designed to transport liquefied CO2 safely.

The company offers services to transport and store CO2 from various industries, particularly in Norway and Europe. This recent launch builds on its aim to reduce emissions and support decarbonisation efforts.

The process begins when the ship collects CO2 from industrial sites, transports it across Europe, and finally delivers it to a receiving facility in Øygarden, Norway.

Some special features of the carrier include:

• A capacity to carry 7,500 m³ of liquefied CO2;
• Use of technologies like wind-powered sails and air lubrication to reduce fuel consumption; and
• Operation on LNG, a cleaner fuel than traditional options.

Tim Heijn, Managing Director at Northern Lights, said: "This is a great moment for Northern Lights and the CCS industry. Today we celebrate that the full CO2 transport and storage chain of Northern Lights is ready. Northern Pioneer and her sister ships will enable flexible and scalable CO2 transport across Europe."

The construction of the other three ships is ongoing, and one of them, Northern Pathfinder, which is currently being built, will be launched soon. The ships will be managed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, also known as "K" LINE, a Japanese shipping company.

Yukikazu Myochin, President and CEO of “K” LINE, said: "We are delighted to have reached a significant milestone for the Northern Lights value chain making the first step in our journey. With our extensive knowledge and experience in the operation of various liquefied gas carriers, the “K” LINE Group is determined to work together to contribute to Europe’s decarbonization through safe and reliable liquefied CO2 transportation."

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Source: Northern Lights