Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to build world’s first demonstration ship for LCO2 transportation

The 72-metre ship will have a tank capacity of 1,450m³ and will be built at the Enoura Plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industry’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works. Delivery is scheduled for the late 2023 or early 2024.

The Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA) will charter the ship from Sanyu Kisen. Under consignment from ENAA, three additional project partners – Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE), Nippon Gas Line, and Ochanomizu University – will accelerate R&D of the LCO₂ transportation technology and contribute to the cost reduction of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology through safe, long-distance and large-scale transportation of LCO₂.

Although ships to carry LCO₂ used in the food industry have previously been constructed and operated in Europe and Japan, the ship to be newly constructed is expected to be the world’s first LCO₂ carrier intended specifically for CCS.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will be responsible for the ship design and construction, including the cargo containment system, applying its gas handling technologies and expertise cultivated through the construction of liquefied gas carriers. Last year, Bureau Veritas gave approval in principle to Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for a cargo tank system to be mounted in an LCO₂ carrier.

Other LCO₂ carrier designs are being developed including a 70,000m³ very large, LCO₂ carrier by ABS and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry and DNV have awarded approval in principle to Hyundai Heavy Industries and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering for a new 40,000m³ carrier design.