Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced the acquisition of Approval in Principle (AiP)(1) for their jointly developed liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier from the Norwegian classification society Det Norske Veritas AS (DNV). The presentation ceremony took place on September 5 at Fiera Milano, the venue of Gastech 2022, a major international conference on global energy and environmental issues, including natural gas, LNG, and hydrogen, held in Milan, Italy.
AiP presentation ceremony held at Gastech 2022
The LCO2 carrier that underwent a Hazard Identification Study (HAZID)(2) and received an AiP is a 50,000m3-class vessel for which the two companies completed a joint concept study in November 2021. The vessel design incorporates tank pressure specifications for larger vessels in the future. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and MOL are also integrating the knowledge of an MOL-invested company, Norway-based Larvik Shipping AS, which has managed LCO2 vessels in Europe for more than 30 years. The HAZID was implemented in line with actual operations. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and MOL will leverage their respective and complementary strengths and knowledge to advance this joint development project, and through the newly acquired AiP will continually work to develop various technologies, including LCO2 vessels, which will be essential in building a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) value chain, thereby contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
MHI Group today is pursuing a strategy focused on strengthening its businesses relating to the energy transition. Within that context, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding takes charge of the growth strategy known as “MARINE FUTURE STREAM”, which has two overarching targets: “decarbonization of the maritime economy” through use of renewable energies and carbon recycling, and “a safe and secure future for society” through autonomous operation and electrification. The company seeks to achieve these dual goals through creation and implementation of marine-related innovations. MOL sets the mid-to-long-term target “With concerted effort throughout the Group, achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050” in “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1.” The MOL Group will further accelerate this initiative on the CO2 transport business to contribute to reducing society’s overall GHG emissions.
(1) Approval in Principle (AiP) indicates that the certification body has reviewed the basic design and approved it as satisfying the technical requirements and safety criteria. The assessment was conducted in accordance with the IGC Code and DNV Classification Rules applicable to vessels transporting liquefied gas in bulk. (2) Hazard Identification Study: HAZID is a safety evaluation method for plants and systems, which identifies potential risk (hazard) items in a design concept and evaluates the magnitude of the risk and the effectiveness of countermeasures.
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired Approval in Principle (AIP)(1) from the French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) for a spherical cargo tank system for liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers. A presentation ceremony was held on June 7 at the Metropolitan Expo exhibition center in Athens, Greece, venue for the international shipping exhibition Posidonia 2022. LCO2 carriers transport liquefied CO2 gas in cargo tanks in a low-temperature, high-pressure state. For that reason, independent Type C tanks as defined by the IGC Code(2) are typically used for the cargo tank system of such vessels. Until now, various tank structures have been available, including cylindrical, bilobed and trilobed designs. Now, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has succeeded in developing a spherical cargo tank system for LCO2 carriers, applying its advanced technologies in structural analysis and material evaluation cultivated through the design and construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers equipped with spherical tanks. Development of the new spherical structure for LCO2 carriers resulted in acquisition of the AIP from BV.
Compared with cylindrical, bilobed and trilobed options, spherically shaped tanks offer greater structural strength against internal pressure of the tank. The adoption of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s spherical cargo tank system is expected to further optimization of ship arrangement and enhance the economic performance of LCO2 carriers.
As part of the energy transition strategy being promoted by MHI Group, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has established a growth strategy called “MARINE FUTURE STREAM vision for 2050”. The strategy focuses on two overarching targets: “decarbonization of the maritime economy” through use of renewable energies and carbon recycling, and “safe and secure future for society” through autonomous operation and electrification. The company seeks to achieve these dual goals through creation and implementation of marine-related innovations. With acquisition of the new AIP for its spherical cargo tank system for LCO2 carriers, going forward Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will ever more actively pursue the development of LCO2 carriers and related business as a marine system integrator. At the same time, the company will also dedicate its full resources to developing and providing technologies to respond flexibly to the diverse LCO2 carrier needs of the market to build a CCUS(3) value chain — with the ultimate goal of achieving a CCUS value chain straddling land and sea, to realize a decarbonized society.
(1) Approval in Principle (AIP) indicates that a certification body has reviewed an item’s basic design and confirmed that it meets technical requirements and safety standards. Inspection of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s spherical cargo tank system was conducted based on the IGC Code as it applies to marine vessels that transport liquefied gas in bulk, as well as BV’s own classification regulations. (2) The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) is an international regulation stipulating the safety requirements for ships that transport LCO2, LNG, or other liquefied gases as cargo in bulk. (3) CCUS: carbon capture, utilization and storage
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) have been granted Approval in Principle (AiP)(Note) from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for joint development of CO2 transport technology for liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers.
Image of an LCO2 carrier
LCO2 carriers transport liquefied CO2 at low temperature and high pressure, which is contained in the cargo tank system. Since the design of cargo containment system depend strongly on the condition of liquefied CO2 such as their temperature and pressure, it is an important technical development issue to increase the size of cargo tank systems and hulls for future mass transportation.
In the joint development of LCO2 carriers by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and NYK Line, which is so performed as to resolve such technical issues, the feasibility and compliance with regulations and standards were confirmed for each cargo tank system and hull section, taking into account different tank pressure settings for medium and large vessels, leading to the grant of the AiP. MHI Group is strategically working to strengthen the energy transition business, and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is promoting the development and commercialization of LCO2 carriers. MHI believes that the grant of the AiP for a large LCO2 carrier will make a significant contribution to the realization of this strategy.
NYK Line believes that the establishment of CO2 transport technology by large vessels will greatly contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. NYK is working together with the MHI Group, which possesses a wide range of technologies in the CCUS value chain, to achieve the early realization of not only small and medium-sized vessels but also large LCO2 carriers. Based on the design of the LCO2 carrier granted the AiP, NYK Line will further promote its participation in the CCUS value chain, such as by studying the design of the LCO2 carrier for each project, including further enlargement of the size of vessels.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and NYK Line will utilize the strengths and knowledge of each company, which complement each other, to advance the joint development currently underway, and through the AiP, will continue to make efforts to develop various technologies, including LCO2 carriers, necessary for building the CCUS value chain, and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has established the MARINE FUTURE STREAM vision for 2050 in the ship and marine sector, setting the goals of “decarbonization of the maritime economy” through autonomous operation and electrification, and “safe and secure future for society” through renewable energy and the carbon cycle, and working to generate and implement ideas for marine-related innovation. Going forward, as a marine systems integrator, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to actively develop and commercialize LCO2 carriers, build a CCUS value chain spanning land and sea, and strive to realize a decarbonized world.
*Approval in Principle (AiP) indicates that a certification body has reviewed the basic design and confirmed that it meets the technical requirements and standards for safety. The inspection of this system was conducted based on the IGC Code that applies to marine vessels that transport liquefied gas in bulk and NK’s ship classification regulations.
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group based in Yokohama, has completed a conceptual study for the design of an “Ammonia/Liquefied CO2 Carrier” capable of transporting both ammonia and liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2). The extensive study conducted with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. provides the basis for a type of vessel with potential to become mainstream in the LCO2 carrier market by flexibly meeting the projected increase in demand for transporting ammonia and LCO2.
Image of “Ammonia/Liquefied CO2 Carrier”
Ammonia is a source of stable clean energy projected to be used widely in the future, and LCO2 carriers play an important role in the carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) value chain, which is attracting attention as a means to achieve a decarbonized world, by providing a way to efficiently transport recovered LCO2 to storage sites and facilities for effective utilization. MHI Group estimates that the volume of CO2 reduction due to CCUS will amount to 4.3 to 13.0 billion tonnes annually by 2050.
The vessel for transporting ammonia and LCO2 developed through this conceptual study is designed to carry ammonia on its outward journey, and LCO2 on the return trip. Specific carriers for each material normally run empty on their return voyage, so a ship able to handle both substances will increase operational efficiency, and contribute to enhanced transport efficiency overall.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to further develop the technology based on the knowledge acquired and technical issues encountered through this project, and in cooperation with marine-related corporations and petroleum development corporations, aims to commercialize the vessel. In addition, considering the entire value chain, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to develop various types of ships based on this design in order to respond flexibly to customer needs.
As an integral part of MHI Group’s energy transition strategy, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has established the MARINE FUTURE STREAM vision for 2050 in the ship and marine sector, setting the goals of “a decarbonized marine world” through autonomous operation and electrification, and “effective utilization of the marine space” through renewable energy and the carbon cycle, and working to generate and implement ideas for marine-related innovation. Going forward, as a marine systems integrator, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to actively develop and commercialize LCO2 carriers, build a CCUS value chain spanning land and sea, and strive to realize a decarbonized world.
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Group based in Yokohama, has concluded a contract with KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. for construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, the first to operate in western Japan. The vessel will be built at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with completion and handover scheduled for March 2024.
Image of LNG Bunkering Vessel
LNG bunkering vessels supply LNG to LNG-fueled vessels. The use of LNG propulsion for ships is attracting attention as a solution for compliance with regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The planned LNG bunkering vessel will have an electric main engine, and be equipped with a dual fuel engine capable of using both LNG and heavy oil as fuel, a first for an LNG bunkering vessel in Japan. When operating in gas mode, it will provide exceptional environmental performance with considerably reduced emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx), and particulate matter (PM).
KEYS Bunkering West Japan is a joint venture company established in February 2022 to supply LNG fuel for ships in the Kyushu and Setouchi Regions, with investment from Kyushu Electric Power Company, Inc. NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX CO., LTD., and SAIBU GAS CO., LTD.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, as part of MHI Group’s strategic initiatives for energy transition, will make use of the gas handling technologies and experience it has accumulated from building LNG carrier vessels. Through this business project involving low environmental-impact LNG fuel, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, as a maritime system integrator, aims to further the decarbonization of the marine industry, and realize a carbon neutral world.
Overview of the LNG Bunkering Vessel Length overall (LOA): Approx. 82.4 meters Beam: Approx. 18.2 meters Draft: Approx. 4.8 meters Gross tonnage: Approx. 4,850 tonnes LNG tank capacity: Approx. 3,500 m3 Propulsion system: Electric propulsion
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world?s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.
