The world’s first purpose-built commercial liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier, Northern Pioneer (10,000 dwt), arrived at its homeport in Stavanger, Norway, on February 6. The vessel will undergo commissioning before launching operations to transport captured CO2 from industrial sites in Northern Europe for storage beneath the North Sea.
Designed to carry approximately 7,500 cbm of liquefied CO2 under conditions of up to 19 bar (g) pressure and temperatures as low as -35°C, Northern Pioneer is the first of four vessels built for this pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative. It will shuttle between receiving terminals in Øygarden and Brevik, where the first commercial customer, Heidelberg Materials, is located on Norway’s southern coast.
Built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) in China, the vessel was delivered in November and undertook a delivery voyage via Singapore—where it loaded LNG—before rounding Africa and stopping in Las Palmas. Northern Pioneer departed on January 25 for its final leg home to Norway.
The 130-meter (426-foot) ship, registered in Norway and managed by Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line), operates on LNG and incorporates energy-efficient technologies, including a wind rotor and an air lubrication system.
The vessel was officially christened in Stavanger by former Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, who played a key role in launching the Longship CCS project, now known as Northern Lights—a collaboration between Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Shell.
During its delivery voyage, Northern Pioneer underwent testing and optimization of its energy-saving systems. It will now proceed with mechanical commissioning and interface training at the receiving terminal before beginning operations. The Northern Lights project completed terminal construction in 2024, paving the way for commercial operations this year.
A second vessel, Northern Pathfinder, was delivered in late December and is currently en route to Norway via South Africa. Northern Lights has also placed orders for two additional vessels from DSIC to expand its CCS fleet.
Source: Swifteradio.com
