The “Northern Pathfinder” is the second CO2 tanker for the “Northern Lights” consortium. Ship no. 4 goes into management at Bernhard Schulte.
The ship was completed by Dalian Shipbuilding in China shortly before the turn of the year and handed over to the Japanese shipping company K Line. The first tanker in the series was the “Northern Pioneer” in November last year.
Northern Lights is the world’s first CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) project in which CO2 is transferred from land to sea and stored 2,600 metres below the seabed. It is a joint venture between the energy companies Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell.
Upon arrival in Norway, both vessels will begin mechanical commissioning at the carbon capture facility in Brevik and the receiving terminal in Øygarden. On its way to Norway, the ship was supplied with LNG in Singapore on 15 January by the LNG bunker vessel “Fueling Bellina” from the K Line fleet.
A further two newbuildings have been ordered. The fourth ship in the series will be under the technical supervision of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM). The time charter contract was concluded in December 2023. Delivery is scheduled for 2026. All four ships are identical in construction and have a loading capacity of 7,500 m³.
Details on the tankers for Northern Lights
- Capacity: 7,500 m³ liquid CO2
- Two cylindrical cargo tanks
- Length: 130 m
- Transport conditions: maximum pressure of 19 bar(g) and minimum temperature of -35°C
- 34% lower CO2 footprint than ships using conventional fuel
- LNG dual-fuel, wind-assisted rotor sail and air lubrication
