- NYK is developing next-generation LCO₂ carriers using Low Pressure (LP), Medium Pressure (MP), and Elevated Pressure (EP) modes to enable large-scale carbon dioxide transport for CCS.
- It is collaborating with domestic and global partners to standardize ship designs and build large LCO₂ carriers for commercial deployment by 2028.
- NYK’s proprietary LCO₂-EP system, developed with Norwegian partner Knutsen, is expected to reduce liquefaction costs and support safe and efficient CO₂ shipping.
NYK is accelerating efforts to reduce carbon emissions in maritime transportation and actively contributing to society’s broader transition toward a low-carbon future. As part of this strategy, NYK is focusing on the development of advanced technologies for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS), a key tool in achieving carbon neutrality. One major area of innovation is in the design and construction of liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carriers that can transport captured CO₂ from industrial facilities to designated underground storage sites.
Three Transportation Modes for LCO₂
To address varying needs across CCS projects, NYK is developing carriers that support three transportation pressure modes—Low Pressure (LP), Medium Pressure (MP), and Elevated Pressure (EP). Each mode offers different benefits based on project scale, infrastructure, and temperature-pressure requirements. NYK aims to offer flexible solutions for all three modes to meet future LCO₂ transport demands.
Addressing the Dry Ice Challenge in Large-Scale CO₂ Shipping
While CO₂ liquefies at higher temperatures compared to LNG, it presents challenges such as the risk of forming dry ice if temperature and pressure are not properly maintained. This can cause pipeline blockages or equipment damage. To transport LCO₂ safely and cost-effectively, particularly at scale, this issue must be addressed. Currently, MP is the only commercially viable method, with small vessels under 10,000m³ already in service. However, to reduce per-unit transport costs, larger vessels are needed. The LP method is being explored for this upscaling due to its suitability in large-volume ship construction.
Collaborative Development of Next-Gen Ships
Since November 2021, NYK has been working with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to develop LCO₂ carriers using both LP and MP methods. In May 2022, they received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for small-to-large scale ships. A dual-purpose carrier capable of transporting both ammonia and LCO₂ was also approved in June 2023. More recently, in September 2024, NYK, along with six other Japanese partners, secured AiPs from ABS and ClassNK for two ship classes—50,000m³ and 23,000m³—based on the LP method. The goal is to establish standard designs and domestic mass production capacity by 2028 for widespread deployment of LCO₂ carriers.
Proprietary Elevated Pressure (EP) Technology: The LCO₂-EP System
NYK is also advancing Elevated Pressure (EP) transport technology through its joint venture with Norway’s Knutsen Group—Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers AS (KNCC). Unlike LP and MP vessels that use cylindrical tanks, the LCO₂-EP system uses slender, high-pressure vessels. This innovative approach received an AiP from DNV in 2022 and General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) in 2023.
Successful Demonstration and Infrastructure Readiness
In September 2024, NYK, KNCC, and ENEOS Xplora Inc. completed a successful demonstration of the EP system in Norway. The process uses isenthalpic expansion to liquefy CO₂ by taking advantage of the cooling effect during depressurization. This reduces the size and energy demands of onshore infrastructure, addressing key commercialization challenges of CCS. Plans are underway for constructing a 40,000m³ LCO₂-EP carrier with Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., and NYK is working with JFE Shoji Corporation and KNCC to secure a stable steel supply chain in Asia for tank and infrastructure construction.
By developing LP, MP, and EP-based LCO₂ carriers, NYK is preparing for the future of global CO₂ transport. These initiatives support the commercialization of CCS and the shipping industry’s long-term decarbonization goals, positioning NYK as a key player in building the infrastructure for a net-zero future.
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Source: NYK Line
