Liquid CO₂ carrier delivered to Bernhard Schulte

Hamburg-based Bernhard Schulte has taken delivery of the tanker, Northern Purpose, marking an important step in the group’s expansion into carbon capture and storage in shipping. The liquid CO₂ carrier, with a capacity of 7,500m³, has a dual-fuel LNG propulsion system, a rotor sail, and air lubrication. It will transport cargo at maximum 19 bar pressure and minimum -35ºC.

The vessel, built at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. Ltd (DSOC), will operate on the Northern Light project, the world’s first cross-border CO₂ transport and storage initiative. The ship has now begun a long-term charter to transport captured CO₂ from industrial customers in northwest Europe to Norway for permanent geological storage underneath the Norwegian continental shelf.

Johann Schulte, majority shareholder of the Schulte Group and CCO of Bernhard Schulte, commented: “Our new LCO₂ carrier marks the exciting expansion of Bernhard Schulte’s fleet portfolio into this innovative tanker segment. We are delighted to be part of Northern Lights’ industry-leading project to provide CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure. The close collaboration with DSOC as selected shipbuilding partner underscores our long-standing relationships with Chinese shipyards.”   

The vessel is the fourth liquid CO₂ for the Northern Lights project. All four are sister vessels, transporting cargo in two cylindrical pressure tanks.