“K” Line, Northern Lights sign contracts for two LCO2 ships
The 7,5000m3 ships will be managed by “K” Line LNG Shipping (UK).
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) has entered into bare boat charter and time charter contracts with Northern Lights JV for two liquefied CO2 vessels.
Designed to support the world’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, both the ships are expected to be delivered in 2024.
“K” Line LNG Shipping (UK), a London-based subsidiary of “K” Line, will be responsible for the management of ships.
These ships will transport liquefied CO2 from industrial emitters, including the Norcem Brevik and Hafslund Oslo Celsio carbon capture facilities, to the Northern Lights CO2 receiving terminal in Øygarden of Norway.
With a cargo tank capacity of 7,500m3, the ships will have an overall length of 130m, a breadth of 21.2m and a draft of 7.5m.
Northern Lights and “K” Line will jointly develop operational procedures for the safe shipment of liquefied CO2.
Classified by DNV, the ships will be registered in Norway and operated under the Norwegian (NOR) flag by Norwegian shipboard personnel.
“K” Line president and CEO Yukikazu Myoch said: “We are honoured to participate in the Northern Lights project and contribute to the decarbonisation of industry.
We have been able to develop a new field by making use of our decades of know-how in liquefied gas transport.”
This year in August, “K” Line tested marine biofuel on a Supramax bulk carrier, as part of its decarbonisation efforts.
About Northern Lights
Northern Lights is developing an open and flexible infrastructure to transport CO2 from industrial emitters by ship to a receiving terminal in western Norway for intermediate storage, before being transported by pipeline for permanent storage in a geological reservoir 2,600 meters under the seabed. Operations are scheduled to start in 2024.
The facilities are under construction and will enable Northern Lights to offer a safe and reliable shipping and storage service to industrial emitters from across Europe.
With increased interest from industrial sectors in Europe, additional shipping and storage capacity will be developed as demand grows.
Northern Lights JV DA is a registered, incorporated General Partnership with Shared Liability (DA) owned equally by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.
About Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE)
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) founded in 1919 is one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
“K” LINE has a long history and diversified track-record in ownership and technical management of liquefied gas carriers since delivering its first LPG carrier in 1974 and first LNG carrier in 1983.
Based on such extensive experience of safe navigation and cargo operation of liquefied gas carriers, “K” LINE will contribute to safety and reliable liquefied CO2 transportation in the new CCS market.
“K” LINE Group, as a globally trusted logistics company rooted in the shipping industry, will continue to work toward realizing low-carbon and carbon-free business operations and supporting decarbonization of society as a whole in order to realize a sustainable society and increase its corporate value, based on its corporate philosophy of “helping make the lives of people more affluent”.
【Dimensions and Characteristics】
Cargo tank capacity ：7,500 ㎥
Length overall ：130m
Breadth ：21.2m
Draft ：7.5m
