On May 30, Dalian Shipbuilding & Offshore (DSOC) successfully kicked off the construction of the G7500-3 project for Northern Lights, which is the third vessel in the series of the world’s first LCO2 carriers for Northern Lights.
Developed independently by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation(DSIC), the LCO2 carrier is about 130 meters in length, 21.2 meters in breadth, 8 meters in structural draught, flying the Norwegian flag of convenience and classed by DNV.
It is equipped with fully pressurized C-type liquid cargo tanks made of special materials. Meanwhile, the main engine is equipped with both liquefied natural gas and marine light diesel fuel, and the sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides emission levels meet the most stringent requirements.
With strong adaptability to cold sea, the LCO2 carrier applies many innovative technologies such as rotor sails, bubble drag reduction, main engine exhaust gas monitoring system and shaft generator system, which greatly reduces the emission level and enhances the energy saving effect, and meets the requirements of the most advanced Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI Phase III).
In addition, DSOC will overcome a series of technical difficulties such as the strength of liquid cargo tanks and saddles, vibration noise, etc., to finally achieve the design and construction concepts of green, environmental protection, safety, high efficiency and comfort, with the design and construction level at the forefront of the international shipbuilding field.
Like the previous two vessels, the LCO2 carrier will be used in the European CCS program to reduce CO2 emissions in Europe by collecting CO2 from European industries, transporting it to the CO2 receiving terminal on the Norwegian west coast, treating it and then injecting it 2,600 meters into the seabed for permanent storage. The terminals is scheduled to begin operations in 2024.
On the same day, DSOC, together with DNV, Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC), Jiangsu Watts Energy & Engineering(WE) and Germany TGE Marine signed a joint development agreement for LCO2 carriers.
Under the agreement, all parties will give full play to their respective advantages in the field of carbon dioxide and ships, and collaborate in the fields of industrial resources integration, industry specifications, ship program development, cryogenic cargo maintenance system and storage device research and development, and jointly develop and promote a series of LCO₂ carriers.