On November 29th, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation(DSIC), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), delivered the world’s first commercial 7,500m3 liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier- “NORTHERN PIONEER”, for the Norwegian Northern Lights.
The LCO₂ carrier is designed and built by DSIC with complete independent intellectual property rights, measuring about 130 meters in overall length, 21.2 meters in breadth, and 8 meters in structural draught. It is equipped with two fully pressurized C-type liquid cargo tanks that can withstand temperatures as low as -35°C and transport a total of 7,500 m3 of liquid carbon dioxide.
The sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emission levels meet the requirements of the most advanced Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI Phase III), and it is the world’s first large-scale ship specializing in serving the marine carbon capture and storage industry.
The successful delivery of the “NORTHERN PIONEER” indicates that DSIC has overcome a series of technical difficulties, including ship type optimization, CTOD test of liquid cargo tank materials, liquid cargo tank and saddle reinforcement plan, liquid cargo system design plan, new energy-saving device, large block lifting, vibration and noise, etc., and has mastered the design and construction technology of large LCO₂ carriers, consolidating the leading position of China’s shipbuilding industry in the LCO₂ carrier construction market.
After delivered, it will be used for carbon dioxide capture and storage in Europe, and the collected carbon dioxide will be transported to the carbon dioxide receiving terminal on the west coast of Norway to be processed and injected into the seabed for permanent storage at 2,600 meters below the sea floor, which will play a leading role and demonstration role for the global model of solving the problem of carbon dioxide emissions from the land.