Northern Pioneer, a new liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier recently delivered to the Northern Lights joint venture formed by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, arrived in its homeport of Stavanger in southwestern Norway on Friday, February 7.
Following the vessel's arrival in Stavanger, a formal naming ceremony was held with Norway's former Petroleum and Energy Minister Tina Bru serving as sponsor.
Northern Pioneer is the first ship in a series of LCO2 carriers ordered by Northern Lights in 2021 from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) of China. Sister ship Northern Pathfinder was delivered in late December 2024.
The ships each have a length of 130 metres, a beam of 21 metres, a design draught of eight metres, and a total cargo capacity of 7,500 cubic metres. The two type C cargo tanks will transport LCO2 at –35 degrees Celsius and a maximum pressure of 19 bar(g).
The ship’s engines will run primarily on LNG with diesel serving as a backup fuel. Other emissions-reducing features will include wind-assisted propulsion and air lubrication to ensure compliance with EEDI Phase III requirements, though the engines’ current configuration can already generate significantly reduced SOx and NOx emissions.
Northern Pioneer will be managed and operated under bareboat charter by Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line). The ship's construction was completed in compliance with DNV class rules.
Source:www.bairdmaritime.com