Get some insights into the construction progress of Schulte Group's first LCO2 tanker. This pioneering vessel, designed for the Northern Lights CCS project, marks a significant step in carbon capture and storage, offering new opportunities for the shipping industry.
Published on 13 May 2025
When the Schulte Group announced the expansion of its fleet portfolio by ordering its first LCO2 tanker, it was undoubtedly entering uncharted territory. Not only is it the first privately financed vessel of its kind, but it is also a completely new ship segment without any blueprint.
Transporting liquid CO2 by ship for innovating carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes is a new field. Although there are a few CO2 tankers in operation for the beverage industry, they are not comparable with the new LCO2 tanker being built for the Northern Lights CCS project.
“Nevertheless, we can of course draw on our many years of extensive experience in the gas carrier segment. We have been active in this area for almost 60 years,“ explains Tim Mauersberger, Senior Business Analyst at the Maritime Energy Centre (MEC). The MEC is the Think Tank of the Schulte Group for all activities related to LNG, alternative fuels and liquid CO2 shipping.
In addition to the MEC and Bernhard Schulte, the Schulte Group’s ship owning arm, which commissioned the newbuilding, other group entities are also contributing their expertise to the project. The construction is being overseen by the newbuilding division Schulte Marine Concept (S.M.C.), including plan approval and construction supervision. Ship management services will be provided by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).
The new LCO2 tanker of the type 2PG/3G is now taking shape at Dalian Shipbuilding & Offshore Company (DSOC) in China. “After keel laying last November, the two CO2 tanks were recently installed in the hull,” said Mauersberger. The cylindrical-shaped independent tanks of IMO type C have a cargo capacity of together 7,500 m³, suitable for the transportation of refrigerated medium-pressurised liquefied gases. They are made of a special high strength steel, catering for the medium pressure (19 bar) and low temperature (-35 degree C) combination required by the cargo. The next milestone is the installation of the main engine at the end of May. “So far, the construction process has been smooth and is on schedule,” Mauersberger added.
In addition, the vessel features innovative technologies to significantly reduce its carbon footprint: The primary fuel for the ship will be LNG. Combined with other proven technologies, such as a wind-assisted propulsion system (Flettner rotor) and air lubrication, it is expected to achieve a carbon footprint approximately 34% lower than that of conventional ships running on marine fuel.
The LCO2 tanker for Bernhard Schulte is the last of a series of four ships to be built for Northern Lights. The joint venture, owned by Shell, TotalEnergies and Equinor, has also ordered three other vessels of the same type, the first one having been already delivered in November. The novel tanker ordered by Bernhard Schulte, scheduled for delivery in 2026, is committed to a long-term time charter agreement with Northern Lights and will support the development of the world’s first cross-border CO2 transport and storage infrastructure. The four ships will safely transport the liquified CO2 from Northern Lights’ customers across Northwest Europe to the CO2 receiving terminal at Øygarden, Norway before permanent geological storage.
Carbon capture and storage is a process that has great potential to support the decarbonisation, especially of energy-intensive industries. Additionally, it offers beneficial opportunities for the shipping industry in gaining new business and reducing its own carbon footprint.
Tim Mauersberger, Senior Business Analyst at the Maritime Energy Centre (MEC)
ContactTim Mauersberger, Senior Business Analyst at the Maritime Energy Centre (MEC)
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