The maritime and energy industries are celebrating a groundbreaking development as Northern Lights JV announces the delivery readiness of Northern Pioneer, the world’s first CO₂ carrier for commercial transport and storage. Built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC) in Dalian, China, this vessel is the first in a fleet of four ships forming the world’s largest dedicated CO₂ shipping fleet.
Pioneering CO₂ Transport and Storage as a Service
Northern Lights is the first company globally to offer a commercial CO₂ transport and storage service. This initiative is pivotal to advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, aimed at reducing industrial emissions and addressing climate change. The Northern Pioneer is set to transport liquefied CO₂ captured from industrial sites in Norway and Europe to the Northern Lights receiving terminal in Øygarden, Norway, a state-of-the-art facility completed in September 2024.
“This is a great moment for Northern Lights and the CCS industry. Today we celebrate that the full CO₂ transport and storage chain of Northern Lights is ready. Northern Pioneer and her sister ships will enable flexible and scalable CO₂ transport across Europe,” said Tim Heijn, Managing Director at Northern Lights.
Custom Design for Safe CO₂ Transport
The Northern Pioneer has been custom-designed to safely transport liquefied CO₂ under precise conditions of up to 19 bar pressure and at temperatures as low as -35°C. The vessel, measuring 130 meters in length and 21 meters in width, has a cargo capacity of 7,500 m³.
To minimize its environmental impact, the ship utilizes LNG as its primary fuel and features advanced low-carbon technologies, including a wind-assisted rotor sail and air lubrication system.
Global Collaboration in Shipbuilding
The construction of the Northern Pioneer reflects a global effort. DSIC, a leader in innovative shipbuilding, was awarded the contract in 2021 following a competitive tender process. Lin Jiming, Vice President of DSIC, expressed pride in their role:
“We take great pride in designing and constructing the world’s first ship for commercial CO₂ transport. The delivery of this ship will establish DSIC as a pioneer in CO₂ transportation solutions, and we remain committed to collaborating with Northern Lights to realize their CCS objectives.”
The ship is flagged in Norway and will be managed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. “K” LINE. Yukikazu Myochin, President and CEO of “K” LINE, highlighted the company’s commitment:
“With our extensive knowledge and experience in the operation of various liquefied gas carriers, the K LINE Group is determined to contribute to Europe’s decarbonization through safe and reliable liquefied CO₂ transportation.”
Expanding CO₂ Infrastructure
The Northern Pioneer is the first step in a scalable CCS solution that Northern Lights is developing. The fleet’s other vessels, including the Northern Pathfinder, are under construction at DSIC, with additional ships being built by Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co., Ltd (DSOC).
This fleet forms part of the broader Longship project, a Norwegian government-supported initiative to establish a full-scale CCS value chain in Norway. Phase one of the Northern Lights development will provide a storage capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, with plans to expand as demand grows.
About Northern Lights
Northern Lights, incorporated in 2021, is a partnership between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. With Norwegian government backing, the company aims to provide realistic decarbonization opportunities to industries across Europe. Their mission is to deliver a safe, reliable CO₂ transport and storage service to help mitigate climate change.
Northern Lights is on track to begin operations in 2024, marking a transformative step for industries seeking sustainable solutions for carbon emissions.
Source Northen Lights JV