The ‘Northern Pioneer’, a 7,500-cubic-meter liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier independently designed and built by a Chinese shipbuilder, was delivered on Friday in Dalian, marking a significant milestone in China’s shipbuilding industry.
Constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (DSIC), a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, the vessel was commissioned by Norway’s Northern Lights and will play a pivotal role in Europe’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives.
The carrier, measuring 130 meters in length and 21.2 meters in width, features advanced engineering to withstand extreme temperatures as low as -35°C. It is capable of transporting 7,500 cubic meters of LCO2, enabling it to support large-scale CCS operations.
Once operational, the Northern Pioneer will transport CO2 emissions from European industrial sectors to a terminal on Norway’s west coast. There, the carbon will be processed and injected 2,600 meters below the seabed for permanent storage, a critical component in Europe’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality.
The successful delivery underscores China’s ability to tackle complex technical challenges in designing LCO2 carriers. Innovations include optimising ship designs, testing cutting-edge cargo tank materials, and developing liquid cargo systems tailored for extreme conditions.
Experts view the Northern Pioneer as a testament to China’s growing expertise in sustainable shipbuilding. By enabling large-scale carbon transportation and storage, the vessel aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and achieve carbon neutrality.
“We take great pride in designing and constructing the world’s first ship for commercial CO2 transport. The delivery of this ship will establish DSIC as a pioneer in CO2 transportation solutions, and we remain committed to collaborating with Northern Lights to realise their CCS objectives”, said Lin Jiming, Vice President of DSIC.
“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”, said Tim Heijn, Managing Director of Northern Lights JV.
The ship will be registered in Norway and managed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE). “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 decarbonisation through safe and reliable liquefied CO2 transportation,” said Yukikazu Myochin, President and CEO of “K” LINE.
