- Höegh Evi and Aker BP have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV for a new liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carrier designed to transport captured carbon safely and efficiently.
- The vessel design includes an onboard CO₂ conditioning module and is the first to be certified under DNV’s new CO2 RECOND class notation.
- This innovation supports Europe’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, enabling large-scale decarbonization through offshore CO₂ storage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Höegh Evi and Aker BP, in collaboration with Moss Maritime, have been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) by DNV for a next-generation liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carrier. Developed in Norway, the vessel is engineered to transport captured CO₂ from European industrial emitters to offshore sequestration sites on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) with high safety and cost efficiency.
Aker BP’s Commitment to Carbon Capture and Storage
Aker BP is actively exploring CO₂ storage opportunities on the NCS, viewing it as both a growth avenue and a contribution to Europe’s decarbonization targets. Currently, Aker BP operates two CCS licenses, Atlas and Poseidon, and holds a stake in a third. In 2023, Aker BP and Höegh Evi formalized a collaboration to develop the marine infrastructure needed for CO₂ collection, aggregation, and transport from Europe to offshore storage.
Pioneering a New Standard for CO₂ Shipping
DNV’s approval encompasses a thorough assessment of the vessel’s design, particularly its onboard CO₂ conditioning module. This vessel is the first to receive certification under DNV’s new CO2 RECOND class notation, a regulatory framework tailored specifically for CO₂ handling and conditioning on ships. The approval signifies a major milestone for advancing CCS infrastructure and supporting industrial decarbonization across Europe.
Nils Jakob Hasle, EVP Clean Energy at Höegh Evi, emphasized that this designation validates their technical solution, highlighting its role in providing a cost-effective route to decarbonization by connecting large-scale emitters with permanent offshore storage.
Collaborative Development and Industry Impact
Ørjan Jentoft, Asset Manager for CCS at Aker BP, expressed enthusiasm for leveraging Aker BP’s upstream expertise to develop CO₂ storage on the NCS. He praised the integrated approach with Höegh Evi and projected that the innovative design and DNV designation will set new standards in safe, sustainable, and economical large-scale CO₂ transport and storage.
From DNV, COO Christina Saenz de Santa Maria noted the significance of this partnership and the role of new maritime regulations in enabling safe, cost-efficient CO₂ transportation and offshore injection—key steps toward building economically viable CCS value chains.
Integrated CO₂ Transport and Storage Solution
The new LCO₂ carrier is integral to a comprehensive carbon removal system tailored for both large and dispersed emitters in the EU. By incorporating CO₂ conditioning and offloading capabilities directly on the vessel, the design reduces complexity and the risk of impurity mixing, ensuring reliable injection into offshore reservoirs.
Two variants of the vessel design have been approved, with capacities reaching up to 50,000 cubic meters of liquid CO₂. This solution aligns with Aker BP’s CO₂ storage licenses on the NCS, including Poseidon and Atlas, and is initially designed to manage up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, with scalability options for future market growth.
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Source: Aker BP
