RINA, the inspection, certification, ship classification and consulting engineering multinational, has awarded Korea Maritime Consultants Co., Ltd. (KOMAC) the Approval in Principle (AiP) for a newly developed 40,000 CBM LNG-fuelled, hydrogen-ready, liquid CO₂ (LCO₂) carrier.
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies offer significant potential for decarbonisation and are a key enabler of a more cost-effective and achievable net-zero future. Among the available CO₂ transportation options, shipping emerges as a viable solution to link emission sources with storage sites. Compared to pipelines, it provides shorter lead times, greater flexibility and scalability, streamlined permitting processes, and, in many cases, improved economic efficiency.
LCO₂ shipping is still an emerging market, with only a limited number of vessels in operation or under construction. This makes the development of new ships essential. KOMAC’s vessel design captures the growing momentum in the LCO₂ shipping segment, as major international projects begin to set the pace.
This AiP represents a significant advancement in maritime innovation. The future-ready design of the LCO₂ carrier, which features hydrogen as fuel – produced on board and on demand – offers a practical and efficient solution for meeting the IMO 2050 decarbonization targets.
Simone Manca, North Asia Marine Vice President at RINA said, “This AiP reinforces the close and productive relationship between RINA and KOMAC, highlighting our shared commitment to accelerating the transition toward low and zero-carbon operations. We are proud to support KOMAC in advancing a ship type that will play a pivotal role in the global carbon transport infrastructure. This achievement reflects not only technical excellence but also the collaborative spirit driving sustainable progress in maritime design. Looking ahead, RINA and KOMAC aim to deepen their collaboration, pushing the boundaries of marine engineering and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future for global shipping.”
Source: RINA