Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, NYK Line get approval for LCO2 carriers

Japanese companies Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and NYK Line have been granted approval in principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for the joint development of liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carriers, the companies said in a joint statement on May 16.

LCO₂ carriers transport liquefied CO₂ at low temperature and high pressure, which is contained in the cargo tank system. Since the design of cargo containment system depends on the temperature and pressure of LCO₂, it is an important technical development issue to increase the size of cargo tank systems and hulls for future mass transportation, the companies said.

“In the joint development of LCO₂ carriers by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and NYK Line, which is so performed as to resolve such technical issues, the feasibility and compliance with regulations and standards were confirmed for each cargo tank system and hull section, taking into account different tank pressure settings for medium and large vessels, leading to the grant of the AiP,” they said.

NYK Line said that CO₂ transport technology by large vessels will greatly contribute to the realisation of a carbon-neutral society.