Northern Lights has taken delivery of its third LCO2 carrier. The vessel, Northern Phoenix, was handed over by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry in China and is now en route to Norway for testing and commissioning. The ship is part of a four-vessel series, each with a cargo capacity of 7,500 cubic metres, designed to transport CO2 from industrial emitters to the Northern Lights terminal in Øygarden.
The ship will conduct trials of its energy saving systems during the voyage to Europe, followed by mechanical commissioning and joint ship to shore training on arrival. According to Northern Lights, the vessel will be dedicated to transporting CO2 from Yara and will support the start of commercial operations. The project partners have confirmed that the first two ships, Northern Pioneer and Northern Pathfinder, were delivered at the end of 2024, while the fourth unit is due in 2026.
Northern Lights, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, is developing the shipping and offshore storage elements of Norway’s Longship carbon capture and storage project. The initiative includes a receiving terminal, intermediate storage tanks, and subsea infrastructure for permanent CO2 storage. The fleet is central to the expansion of cross border transport, with cargoes expected from clients outside Norway, including future volumes from Stockholm Exergi.
K Line, which has entered into bareboat and time charter agreements for three of the four ships, will manage the Northern Phoenix through its London-based subsidiary. The Japanese operator emphasised its plan to use operational experience from these vessels to support wider decarbonisation efforts, stating: ‘K Line Group is taking different steps towards its own low carbon and carbon free initiatives, and that for society, in accordance with its long-term guidelines concerning the environment, K Line Environmental Vision 2050.’
The vessels are LNG dual fuel and equipped with rotor sails and air lubrication systems. Shore power capability at Øygarden, supplied by PSW Power & Automation, will allow ships to use renewable electricity while alongside.
Northern Lights noted that the project has now surpassed three million hours without a lost time injury, underscoring the focus on safety throughout construction and commissioning. The delivery of the Northern Phoenix moves the company closer to building what it describes as the world’s largest dedicated CO2 shipping fleet, supporting major European cross-border CCS projects.
