Japanese LCO2 Carrier Under Construction

The ground breaking ceremony for the 72m-long 1,450cbm LCO2 carrier was carried out on 7 October 2022 at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s Shimonoseki shipyard. The vessel will be among the first vessels of its kind when it enters service, which is expected by Q1 2024.

The vessel will act as demonstration test ship for the transportation of LCO2 for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) projects when completed in 2023. The demonstration test ship will be used in a number of liquefied CO2 transportation demonstration projects, which have been developed by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) since June 2021.

The project includes Nippon Gas Line Co., Ltd. (NGL) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), who were also present at the ceremony. Ochanomizu University is also participating in the project, as it will conduct fundamental research into the control of carbon dioxide state and provide the information necessary for safe transportation studies.

The demonstration test ship will also be equipped with a liquefied CO2 tank system which has been developed by Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA). 

In February 2022, ENAA and Sanyu Kisen Co., Ltd (Sanyu Kisen) signed a bareboat charter contract for the demonstration test ship, as well as the tank system purchase contract. Upon delivery of the vessel, ENAA will charter the demonstration test ship from Sanyu Kisen.