Bernhard Schulte receives fourth LCO2 carrier for Northern Lights project

Shipowner Bernhard Schulte has taken delivery of its first liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carrier. 

The 130-m-long vessel, named Northern Purpose, was built by Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore in China and will serve the Northern Lights cross-border CO₂ transport and storage project.

It will enter a long-term time charter with the Northern Lights joint venture of Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, taking CO₂ emitted by the facilities of industrial clients in Northwest Europe to the site in the Norwegian North Sea for permanent subsurface storage.

It is the fourth LCO₂ carrier commissioned for Northern Lights, all with the same design and cargo capacity of 7,500 cu m, distributed across two cylindrical pressure tanks.

The vessels are claimed to provide safely handling of CO₂ at low temperatures and medium pressure (maximum 19 bar(g) pressure and minimum -35°C temperature).

 All will deliver their CO₂ cargoes to the reception terminal at Øygarden.

To reduce its carbon footprint, Northern Purpose has an LNG dual-fuel propulsion system, a wind-assisted rotor sail and an air lubrication system.

It is managed by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement.