Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Japanese giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and compatriot LPG transportation specialist Nippon Gas Line have jointly obtained approval in principle (AiP) for a low-pressure type liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier for coastal transportation.
The approval for a versatile small-sized ship designed for use in the domestic sea was issued by Japanese classification society ClassNK on February 3, 2025.
The approval follows a joint concept study on low-pressure type coastal LCO2 carriers to be used for transport from small-scale CO2 capture sites mainly in the Seto Inland Sea area to base site toward overseas storage sites.
The concept study was conducted in conjunction with the Japanese Advanced CCS Projects by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).
Nippon Gas Line is the participant of the CCS Engineering Design Work in Sarawak, Malaysia project as part of the Japanese Advanced CCS Projects in fiscal year 2024. The project calls for the launch of a sea transport scheme using highly versatile small-sized LCO2 carriers to consolidate CO2 collected in Japan for overseas shipping.
The project aims to enhance business efficiency through shipment scale expansion and the LCO2 carrier that acquired AiP certification is expected to serve as a powerful means of sea transport supporting this scheme.
MHI is currently pursuing strategic measures to strengthen its business for the energy transition and contribute to the advancement of the maritime industry by utilizing its shipbuilding-based marine engineering technologies in addition to conventional shipbuilding, underscoring its plans to actively promote the development of LCO2 carriers and the establishment of CCS value chains through collaboration with various domestic and overseas companies.