CCS systems for new LCO2 carriers

Due for delivery by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in 2026, the 22,000cbm LCO2 carriers will join the Capital Gas managed fleet as the largest of their kind ever built.

“Capital Gas proudly became the world’s first ship manager to supervise the construction of LCO2 carriers,” said Miltos Zisis, managing director, Capital Gas Ship Management Corp.

“Now, we are taking a step further. Alongside our partners, we are developing advanced carbon capture technology to enhance the environmental sustainability of these ships.”

Approved by both Lloyd’s Register and DNV, Erma First’s Carbon Fit system uses amine absorption technology to absorb CO2 from flue gases.

The resultant mix is then heated to produce a chemical reaction that reverses the absorption, separating the CO2 from the solvent, which can then be re-used.

“Under normal conditions, CCS systems are expected to cut vessel CO2 emissions by 15 per cent to 30 per cent,” said Konstantinos Stampedakis, co-founder & managing director, Erma First Group.

“At this specific project the CO2 capture rate will exceed 70%.”

The released CO2 is then liquefied using Babcock LGE’s ecoCO2 system and stored on board the ship in pressurised low-temperature storage for subsequent offloading.

“The ecoCO2 design concept for handling both CO2 and LPG cargoes provides a flexible solution that can easily be upgraded to incorporate carbon capture and storage requirements,” said Neale Campbell, managing director, Babcock LGE.