Northern Pathfinder Delivered for World’s First Cross-Border CO2 Transport and Storage Facility
The Northern Pathfinder, the second LNG-powered liquid CO2 (LCO2) transport vessel, has been delivered to Northern Lights—a joint venture (JV) involving global energy leaders Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies. This vessel will support the world’s first cross-border CO2 transport and storage facility.
On December 27, 2024, the Northern Lights JV announced the successful delivery of the Northern Pathfinder, a 7,500-cubic-meter vessel built at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC) in China. The ship spans 130 meters in length and is the second of four sister ships designed specifically for CO2 transport. Together, these vessels will form the world’s largest fleet dedicated to CO2 shipping.
The Northern Pathfinder will be registered in Norway and managed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE). This delivery follows the launch of the first LCO2 carrier, Northern Pioneer, in November 2024. Both ships are critical to safely transporting liquefied CO2 from industrial capture sites across Europe to the Northern Lights receiving terminal in Øygarden, Norway.
Innovative LNG-Powered Technology for Lower Carbon Emissions
The LCO2 carriers, including the Northern Pathfinder, are powered by LNG and feature cutting-edge technologies. These include Norsepower’s wind-assisted propulsion system and air lubrication. The combination of LNG propulsion with wind-assisted technology and air lubrication results in an estimated 34% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional ships powered by marine fuel, according to the Northern Lights JV.
Both the Northern Pathfinder and Northern Pioneer will undergo testing and optimization of their energy-saving technologies during their repositioning voyage from China to Norway.
Operational Readiness and Future Prospects
Upon arrival in Norway, the Northern Pathfinder and Northern Pioneer will begin mechanical commissioning at the receiving terminal in Øygarden, as well as at Brevik, where Heidelberg Materials, the first operational customer, is based. Additionally, interface training between ship and shore personnel will ensure a smooth transition into the operational phase.
Northern Lights: Key to Norway’s Longship CO2 Storage Project
Northern Lights is a central component of Norway’s Longship project. The official opening of the CO2 transport and storage facility in Øygarden, near Bergen, took place on September 26, 2024, in a ceremony attended by Norway’s Minister of Energy. The facility is now fully operational, ready to receive and store CO2.
The project includes the development of a receiving terminal, underwater infrastructure (such as pipelines, subsea installations, and wells), intermediate storage tanks, and onshore facilities. A commercial agreement has also been signed with Yara International to enable the world’s first cross-border CO2 transportation and storage.
Future Expansion and Full-Scale Project Goals
The full-scale Northern Lights project involves capturing CO2 from industrial sources and transporting it as liquid CO2 to the terminal in Øygarden. From there, it will be transported via pipeline to an offshore storage location beneath the seabed in the North Sea for permanent storage. Phase 1 of the project, with a capacity to inject up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually, is already fully booked. The JV partners plan to expand the transport and storage capacity as the project progresses.
