GAC has officially partnered with the Northern Lights Joint Venture (JV), a flagship project under Norway’s Longship carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative, to provide vital logistics and vessel support services. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Europe’s efforts to curb industrial CO₂ emissions through innovative and sustainable shipping solutions.
A Pioneering CCS Project in Europe
Northern Lights JV is the first commercial CCS provider in Europe, offering cross-border carbon transport and permanent storage solutions. Backed by Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Shell, the project enables companies across the continent to ship liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) to a receiving terminal at Øygarden, West Norway. From there, the gas is piped 2,600 meters under the seabed for permanent geological storage.
Already, five companies from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden have signed up for Northern Lights’ services.
GAC’s Role: Seamless Port and Customs Support
Under the new agreement, GAC will provide:
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Ship agency services
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Customs clearance
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Data integration support
These services will be offered in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, with the possibility of expansion into more countries as the project scales. GAC will manage operations for all vessels delivering captured LCO₂ to the Øygarden terminal.
A Trusted Partner Since the Beginning
GAC’s involvement with Northern Lights began in 2019, when the Norwegian team was approached for insights on maritime regulations and pilotage requirements specific to LCO₂ carriers. Their early engagement laid the groundwork for the formal collaboration.
Farzad Zaker, Shipping Operations Manager at Northern Lights JV, praised the partnership:
“We’re pleased to work with GAC as our trusted agent. Northern Lights JV looks forward to a smooth collaboration and a strong working relationship going forward.”
Global Support for a Global Effort
In addition to its European presence, GAC supported K Line LNG, manager of the first two LCO₂ tankers – Northern Pioneer and Northern Pathfinder. GAC’s global teams facilitated the vessels’:
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Outbound clearance from China
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Bunkering support across major ports in Singapore, Mauritius, Namibia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark
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Arrival and naming ceremony in Stavanger, Norway
Scaling Up CO₂ Storage
Once fully operational, the Northern Lights JV is projected to manage up to 500 port calls per year, with GAC offering end-to-end support at every stage. The project’s Phase 1 targets 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ storage per year by mid-2025, with an expansion goal of 5 million tonnes by 2028.
Driving Forward Europe’s Green Maritime Future
According to Ahmet Øzsoy, Managing Director of GAC Norway:
“Our deep involvement with this groundbreaking project has been a powerful learning journey which has armed us with invaluable experience in carbon capture logistics, international maritime regulations and sustainable shipping solutions. These will stand us in good stead to support other projects following the Northern Lights JV’s lead.”
GAC’s partnership with Northern Lights is not only a business venture—it reflects the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in next-generation maritime logistics.
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Source: GAC
