The world’s first keel laying for a 22,000-m3 liquefied CO2 carrier is celebrated at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
Capital Gas Ship Management held a keel laying ceremony for Active, marking the world’s first keel laying of a 22,000-m3 liquefied CO2 carrier at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, in South Korea.
Being built to Lloyd’s Register class, Hull No 8398 will be owned by Ikaros Carriers Corp and managed by Capital Gas Ship Management, and be capable of transporting liquefied CO2, LPG, ammonia and vinyl chloride monomer.
One of four 22,000-m3 LCO2 carriers ordered from Hyundai Mipo for delivery in 2026, this Marshall Island-flag vessel will be fitted with a pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) system under an agreement between Capital Gas, Erma First and Babcock.
The Erma First Carbon Fit system received approvals in principle from both Lloyd’s Register and DNV. It uses amine absorption technology based on a proprietary amine solvent to absorb CO2 from flue gases. The resultant mix is then heated to produce a chemical reaction that reverses the absorption, separating the CO2 from the solvent. Subsequently, the released CO2 is liquefied using Babcock LGE’s ecoCO2 system and stored on board the ship in pressurised low-temperature storage for subsequent offloading. Since the regenerated solvent can be reused, the process creates a highly efficient regenerative loop for CCS, according to the developers.
“These vessels are not just about transporting LCO2, [but also] they represent a step toward the future of carbon management, embracing new technologies that align with the evolving needs of the industry,” said Capital Gas Ship Management in a social media post.
