ABS approves LCO2 carrier design for Ecolog Services

Classification society ABS has issued an approval in principle (AIP) for a 40,000 m³ liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier design for CO2 services company Ecolog Services, it announced on June 7.

The project team included Hanwha Ocean Co., which developed the hull and cargo tank design, and Babcock LGE, which contributed expertise on cargo handling systems and integration. ABS completed design reviews in accordance with the requirements in ABS Marine Vessel Rules and the ABS Guide for liquefied gas carriers with independent tanks.

“The safe transportation of CO2 plays a vital role in the carbon value chain, and we are ready to support such projects with guidance to minimize risks to the crew, vessel, and the environment,” said Panos Koutsourakis, ABS vice president, Global Sustainability.

Ecolog is building a fleet of liquid CO2 carriers to serve the emerging carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) sector. Its strategy revolves around connecting hard-to-abate emitters with sequestration sites and high-value reuse facilities, utilising its midstream infrastructure, including ships and terminals.

“This vessel that received AIP from ABS is a new type of LCO2 carrier capable of transporting large quantities of liquid CO2, which can dramatically improve operating costs. Hanwha Ocean will continue to strive for the development of ultra-large LCO2 carriers,” said Seung-Han Moon of Hanwha Ocean.