6 June 2025

As the global push for carbon neutrality accelerates, industries across Europe are facing mounting pressure to decarbonize. One of the most promising tools in this transition is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)—a technology that captures CO₂ emissions at their source and transports them for permanent storage underground. But as CCS scales up, so too must the infrastructure to support it—especially the transport of captured CO₂.

That’s where liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carriers come in.

Why LCO₂ Carriers Matter

Liquefied CO₂ carriers are specially engineered ships designed to transport carbon dioxide in its liquid form—at high pressure and low temperature—between industrial sources and storage sites. This is crucial because pipelines, the most common transport method, are not always viable, especially for geographically dispersed emitters or offshore storage locations.

Maritime CO₂ transport offers a flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient alternative—one that is especially valuable for connecting European industrial clusters to offshore storage locations like those found on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

A New Class of Carbon Shipping

In a major leap forward, Höegh Evi and Aker BP—two Norwegian pioneers in clean energy and offshore operations—have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the classification society DNV for their next-generation liquefied CO₂ carrier. Developed in collaboration with Moss Maritime, this vessel is designed to transport captured CO₂ safely and efficiently from continental Europe to storage sites under the North Sea.

The vessel design is the first to be evaluated under DNV’s new CO₂ RECOND class notation, which focuses on the safe handling and conditioning of carbon dioxide. The onboard CO₂ conditioning module allows for precise temperature and pressure control, ensuring the cargo remains in liquid form throughout the journey.

“This designation from DNV affirms the strength of our technical solution, which is key to realizing Höegh Evi and Aker BP’s unique CCS offering,” said Nils Jakob Hasle, EVP Clean Energy at Höegh Evi. “Together, we can deliver a cost-efficient path to decarbonization by connecting large-scale carbon emitters to permanent storage offshore.”

The Technical Edge: Modular, Scalable, and Safe

The new vessels are part of a broader integrated carbon removal solution targeting both concentrated and scattered emitters across the EU. The ships feature onboard CO₂ conditioning and offloading systems, minimizing the risk of co-mingling impurities and reducing the complexity of terminal infrastructure. With two approved variants, the vessels will offer a capacity of up to 50,000 m³ of liquid CO₂ per trip—setting a new standard in the industry.

This infrastructure will support the Aker BP-operated CO₂ storage licenses—EXL 005 Poseidon and EXL 011 Atlas—on the NCS. Initially designed to handle up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, the system has been built with scalability in mind to meet growing demand.

Innovation with Impact

“This innovative design with designation from DNV is expected to set new benchmarks in safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable large-scale CO₂ transportation and storage,” said Ørjan Jentoft, Asset Manager for CCS at Aker BP. “Our joint effort reflects a long-term commitment to climate solutions and the decarbonization of European industry.”

Christina Saenz de Santa Maria, COO at DNV Maritime, added: “This AiP demonstrates how maritime regulations with DNV’s new class rules can support the development of safe and cost-efficient solutions for CO₂ transportation and offshore injection.”

A Critical Link in the CCS Chain

With this AiP, Höegh Evi and Aker BP are laying the foundation for a robust European CCS value chain. The ability to safely and economically ship CO₂ across long distances could be a game-changer for nations aiming to meet their net-zero goals without overhauling existing industrial infrastructure.

As CO₂ shipping moves from concept to commercial reality, innovation like this will be critical—not only for the maritime industry but for global climate action as a whole.