Japanese shipping majors Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, have won approval in principle (AiP) from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for their jointly developed liquefied CO2 (LCO2) / methanol carrier.
The vessel is based on a low-pressure LCO2 carrier. It aims to transport CO2, which serves as raw material, on outward voyages and synthetic methanol on return voyages.
As it is reported from MOL, the synthetic methanol (e-methanol) is a synthetic fuel made from CO2 and hydrogen generated from renewable energy.
The two partners, MOL and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, will move forward with the development of the LCO2 / methanol carrier, building on the findings and technical challenges identified during the concept study.
The goal is to achieve commercialization of the LCO2 / methanol carrier through collaboration with relevant companies in the supply chain and other partners.
The MOL Group is currently working to build supply chains for synthetic fuel/methanol and CO2 through initiatives such as its investment in HIF Global LLC, a U.S.-based company that develop, produce and transport synthetic fuel/methanol across North and South America and Australia.
The LCO2 / methanol carrier is expected to enhance the overall economic viability of such supply chains.
