Shipowner Bernhard Schulte has christened its first liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier, marking the company’s entry into the emerging carbon capture and storage (CCS) shipping sector.
The vessel, named Northern Purpose, was built by Chinese shipyard Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. and will operate under a long-term charter for Northern Lights.
Northern Lights is developing what it describes as the world’s first cross-border CO2 transport and storage network, designed to move captured emissions from industrial facilities in northwest Europe to permanent geological storage sites beneath the Norwegian continental shelf.
The 7,500 cbm vessel is equipped with two cylindrical cargo tanks designed to transport liquefied CO2 at temperatures as low as -35°C and pressures up to 19 bar.
Bernhard Schulte said the ship also incorporates several emissions-reduction technologies, including LNG dual-fuel propulsion, a wind-assisted rotor sail and an air lubrication system.
“Our new LCO2 carrier marks the exciting expansion of Bernhard Schulte’s fleet portfolio into this innovative tanker segment,” said Johann Schulte, Majority Shareholder of the Schulte Group and Chief Commercial Officer of Bernhard Schulte.
Northern Lights Managing Director Tim Heijn said the delivery represented an important step in expanding CO2 transportation capacity to support industrial decarbonisation efforts in Europe.
Northern Purpose is the fourth dedicated LCO2 carrier ordered for the Northern Lights project and will be managed by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement.
Northern Lights began injecting CO2 for permanent offshore storage in 2025 and is backed by energy companies Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.
