Japan's MOL gets approval for LCO2 carrier, FSO
Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on June 28 announced it has obtained approval in principle (AiP) for a liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier and a floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit.
The AiPs were granted by ship classification societies Det Norsk Veritas (DNV) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). These vessels were jointly developed by MOL, Malaysian state oil company Petronas, and the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI).
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in February 2022, MOL and Petronas have been conducting joint studies on the optimal means of ocean transport for LCO2 in the Asia Pacific and Oceania region. In collaboration with SDARI, they have completed the concept study for LCO2 carriers and FSOs.
FSOs are floating facilities that can receive, store, and offload cargo offshore, and LCO2 FSOs are considered crucial in the carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) market. Obtaining the AiPs for these concept designs allows for flexibility in addressing transport needs based on volume, transport distance, and direct transport to FSOs near offshore storage facilities, MOL said.
MOL said it plans to continue collaborating with Petronas based on the acquired AiPs and will work on the development of various technologies, including LCO2 carriers and FSOs, to build a diverse CCUS value.