Japan’s MHI, Nihon Shipyard partner for LCO2 carrier

Japanese engineering firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Nihon Shipyard have started a study for joint development of an ocean-going liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a wholly owned subsidiary of MHI, and Nihon Shipyard, a joint venture between shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United, aim to complete development of the LCO2 carrier and start commercial operations after end of the 2027-28 fiscal year ending 31 March.

The LCO2 carrier sector is expected to expand in the near future following the expansion of carbon capture and storage projects, MHI said. It is unable to build a vessel over 200m in Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's shipyard in Shimonoseki, which is behind its partnership with Nihon Shipyard, MHI added. The two firms will share their experience of LCO2 carriers and build a large-scale vessel, although MHI declined to disclose the size of the planned LCO2 carrier.

MHI has already worked with Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Line to develop a 64,000m³ LCO2 carrier and has already obtained in-principle approval from Japanese classification society Class NK in August 2022 and from Norwegian certification society DNV for a 50,000m³ LCO2 carrier.

MHI last month reached an agreement with Japanese gas distributor Osaka Gas to build a CO2 value chain. The two firms will collect carbon emissions from domestic facilities and ship it overseas using the liquefaction method to carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects or to produce synthetic methane.

By Reina Maeda