On June 3, Northern Lights announced on its official website that, through Northern Lights JV, it had signed a long-term time charter contract for one new 12,000 m³ liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carrier with a consortium comprising K Line and Malaysian shipping giant MISC.
The new vessel will be built by Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. (DSOC). According to information released by the shipbuilder, the contract for the 12,000 m³ LCO₂ carrie was officially signed on May 29, with delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2029.
These contracts stem from the fleet expansion plan announced by Northern Lights on January 29, 2026. At that time, the company announced it would charter four newly built 12,000 m³ LCO₂ carriers; the K Line–MISC consortium and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will place orders with the two shipyards based on the relevant charter agreements.
MOL’s two vessels will be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with the shipbuilding contract signed on January 29, 2026; the two vessels for the K Line-MISC consortium will be built by DSOC, with the most recently signed contract covering the second vessel in the series, while the contract for the first vessel was signed on March 4, 2026. Upon delivery, all four new vessels will provide cross-border carbon dioxide transport services for commercial clients in Europe.
According to vessel information published by DSOC, this 12,000 m³ LCO₂ carrier has an overall length of 145 meters and a beam of 26 meters. It flies the Singapore flag and is classified by DNV.
This vessel is equipped with four independent Type-C tanks and is powered by an LNG dual-fuel main engine, meeting the most stringent Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase III requirements. The incorporation of technologies such as main engine exhaust gas monitoring, shaft generators, ammonia fuel systems, and provisions for onboard carbon dioxide capture enables the vessel to outperform conventional ships in terms of energy conservation and emissions reduction. The vessel is designed to meet DNV QUIET’s highest noise control standards and achieves “zero” emissions during loading and unloading operations, thereby minimizing noise and air pollution in the vicinity of the terminal during operations.
With the disclosure of the latest order, Northern Lights has expanded the total fleet size of its Northern Lights CCS project to eight vessels, six of which are being built by DSOC.
It is also worth noting that DSOC has deep ties with Northern Lights. On August 30, 2023, DSOC secured its first independent contract following the completion of its bankruptcy reorganization: an order from Northern Lights for a 7,500 m³ LCO2 carrier.
Since its restructuring, DSOC has secured shipbuilding contracts for a 20,000 m³ LNG bunkering vessel, a semi-submersible vessel, and a product tanker, among others, in addition to the LCO2 carrier project, demonstrating a trend toward diversification in the types of vessels it is securing.