ClassNK has granted approval in principle to a bulk carrier concept from Oshima Shipbuilding that combines multiple-alternative-fuels readiness with onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) capability, highlighting how ship designers and owners are seeking to preserve flexibility as fuel and carbon strategies continue to diverge.
The design is intended to allow future adaptation for ammonia, methanol and liquefied natural gas, while also making provision for the later installation of onboard CO2 capture and storage systems. Rather than committing to a single decarbonisation pathway, the vessel is structured to accommodate several, reflecting uncertainty over which fuels will scale fastest and how carbon pricing regimes will develop.
The AiP is based on two of ClassNK’s technical frameworks. The first is Annex 1 Alternative Fuel Ready (Edition 3.0.1) of the Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels, which define the requirements for ships that are not delivered with alternative fuel systems but are designed and partially equipped so they can be added later. The second is the Guidelines for Onboard CO2 Capture and Storage Systems (Edition 2.0), which set out the criteria for assigning an OCCS ‘ready’ notation.
These guidelines cover practical design considerations such as space allocation, structural reinforcement, interfaces with exhaust systems, storage arrangements for captured CO2, and safety requirements linked to handling and containment.
ClassNK describes its assessment process as follows: ‘ClassNK reviewed the concept design of the vessel based on above-mentioned guidelines. Upon confirming compliance with the prescribed requirements, ClassNK issued AiP.’
For bulk carriers, this approach is important as segment is characterised by long asset lives and exposure to emerging carbon pricing mechanisms, while fuel infrastructure remains unevenly developed across regions. Designs that can accommodate several fuels and later integrate OCCS provide a way to manage regulatory and commercial risk without locking owners into a single technological choice.
