Finnish technology group Wartsila is continuing to move forward with its carbon-capture plans thanks to a design for a new liquid CO2 carrier.

The company has carried out a study on the systems and solutions required for the LCO2 ship, and Wartsila Gas Solutions has developed a bespoke cargo tank.

The tank system has won approval in principle from Norwegian classification society DNV.

"Since new LCO2 carriers are an emerging concept and require detailed attention during conceptual level, Wartsila's experience and know-how in gas cargo and handling systems proved invaluable to the results," the company said.

The total cargo capacity of the design is 7,500 cbm, divided into two containment tanks — each of 3,750 cbm.

"Liquid CO2 is increasingly relevant in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a greener future," Pal Steinnes, general manager of sales Wartsila Gas Solutions, said.

'Proven' concept

"It represents an important link in the value chain for the entire carbon-capture infrastructure."

Steinnes called the carrier a robust and proven concept, both in the cargo-containment and cargo-handling requirement.

The company has not revealed when such a ship might be built.

But Wartsila is already looking into the possibility of carbon capture through its scrubber systems.

After announcing these plans in March, the group was inundated with enquiries from clients.

"We have been totally overwhelmed, with customers saying 'yes please'," marine systems president Tamara de Gruyter told TradeWinds earlier in April.

Next big thing

"It's the next big thing, but it's not something you'll do in the next few months."

She added: "It was nice to see this kind of positive reaction from the market. Customers even asked, 'can I co-invest?' Or said, 'can we help you?'"

Capturing and storing CO2 is an important strategy in efforts to reduce global emissions.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global greenhouse gas output must be reduced by between 50% and 80% by 2050 to avoid dramatic global warming.

"The review process has been extensive, and we trust that their solution will contribute to facilitating the trade in liquid CO2 as a factor in reducing emissions," Monika Johannesen, head of the gas carrier excellence centre at DNV, said.