Japan’s MHI develops liquefied CO2 cargo tank system

Japanese engineering firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has completed the development of a liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) cargo tank system, in anticipation of growing demand for CO2 carriers in global carbon capture, utilisation and storage value chains.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, MHI's wholly owned subsidiary, on 20 May received an approval in principle from French classification society Bureau Veritas for the independent spherical type C tank that carries liquefied CO2 at low temperatures and at a high pressure. The system is verified by International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk, the company said.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding separately in May obtained domestic approval for its liquefied CO2 carrier from Japan's classification society ClassNK with its partner Japanese shipowner Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The two companies plan to complete the development of the large-scale liquefied CO2 carrier by 2024 and to launch it in 2025, Mitsubishi said.

MHI and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding are accelerating liquefied CO2 carrier development with their gas handling technology for vessels such as LPG and LNG carriers, along with CO2 capture technology.

The companies are also working on liquefied CO2 carriers together with Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Line, as well as European energy firms including French industrial gas firm Air Liquide, BP, TotalEnergies, along with four Norwegian companies - Brevik Engineering, state-controlled Equinor, offshore system operator Gassco and research institute Sintef.

By Maiko Nakashima