Germany’s Bernhard Schulte is expanding into liquefied carbon dioxide shipping with its first CO2 carrier order.
The shipowning business of family-owned Schulte Group with a diversified fleet of 80 fully or partly owned vessels, has contracted China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore (DSOC) for a 7,500 cu m LNG dual-fuel capable liquefied CO2 carrier newbuild backed by a charter deal with Northern Lights, a joint venture between Shell, TotalEnergies and Equinor
The vessel is planned for delivery in 2026, becoming the fourth CO2 carrier for Northern Lights. All four 130-m-long ships are sister vessels with the same vessel design featuring technologies, such as wind-assisted rotor sail and air lubrication, that should deliver around 34% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional ships. They will transport CO2 from Northern Lights’ customers across Northwest Europe to the CO2 receiving terminal at Øygarden, Norway before permanent geological storage.
“Ordering this vessel is an exciting step in the expansion of Bernhard Schulte’s fleet portfolio in an innovative future tanker segment. We are looking forward to becoming part of Northern Lights industry leading project to provide CO2 transport and storage infrastructure,” said Ian Beveridge, CEO of Bernhard Schulte.
