Joint venture Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) has won approval from classification society DNV for a new pressurised containment system that will advance its plans to build a new generation of liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers.
KNCC said it has won a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) for its proprietary LCO2-Eleveated Pressure (LCO2-EP) containment system — formerly referred to as PCO2.
This system allows LCO2 to be transported at ambient temperature.
In an announcement headed “KNCC ready to order flexible, scalable, and low cost LCO2 carriers”, the joint venture said it has gone through detailed design and discussion with engineers, consultants, shipyards and subcontractors to prove the capability of its design and achieve the GASA.
The partners described it as “a huge milestone for KNCC” as it enables the company to order LCO2 carriers with the new containment system.
KNCC, which was set up as a 50/50 joint venture in January 2022, said the system is applicable to both newbuildings and the conversion of existing vessels.
Svein Steimler, who is chair of KNCC, said: “CCS is one of the key solutions for the world to reach its climate goals and KNCC has been established to play an essential role in the CCS value chain.”
He said the GASA is “a step forward for KNCC now being able to provide technically and commercially viable LCO2 marine transportation according to significant demand on a global basis”.
Knutsen Group owner and president and vice chair of KNCC Trygve Seglem said: “The LCO2-EP containment system is not new technology but based on the development of pressurised natural gas [PNG] technology and gas pipeline designs which is already proven.
“Transporting LCO2 in ambient mode will offer cheaper and less energy-consuming solutions through the entire CCS [carbon capture and storage] value chain from capture to final storage,” Seglem said.
“It also has great synergy for direct injection offshore from the LCO2 carriers as CO2 injection must be done at high pressure and supercritical phase of CO2.”
KNCC chief executive Anders Lepsoe said: “Now with GASA in place we are opening up a new era of LCO2 designs, which significantly strengthen the competitiveness of our offering of CO2 transportation.
“LCO2-EP containment system is one option but with support from both shareholders, NYK Line and Knusten Group we are also capable of offering middle pressure and low pressure transportation service.”
