Japanese Shipbuilders Get ClassNK Approval for Standardized 42,000 m³ Liquefied CO₂ Carrier Design

Six Japanese companies have received Approval in Principle from ClassNK for a standardized 42,000 m³ liquefied CO₂ carrier design. The group includes MOL, K Line, NYK, Nihon Shipyard, MILES, and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. The approval follows a Hazard Identification Study focused on moving liquefied CO₂ at low pressure. It is a design milestone, not a construction contract. The goal is a common platform so future LCO₂ carriers do not each require years of new engineering. MOL says that could reduce workloads and speed up construction as CCS projects in Japan and elsewhere start needing ships. The company already has two LCO₂ carriers tied to the Northern Lights CCS project, with transport services expected around 2028. No cost savings percentage or first build timeline has been disclosed.