Northern Lights News

The Northern Lights JV has added a third liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier to its fleet, as it expands transport capacity for Europe’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) network.The vessel, Northern Phoenix, was formally welcomed in Bergen and will support the scaling of cross-border CO2 transport under the Northern Lights project.Designed to transport liquefied CO2, the ship will carry captured emissions from Yara to the Northern Lights receiving terminal in Øygarden, where…

Northern Lights JV has awarded a charter agreement to a consortium of “K” Line and MISC Berhad initially for one new liquid CO₂ transport vessel. A second vessel will be awarded to the same consortium in April 2026. Further, two charter agreements have been awarded to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines for two new CO₂ transport vessels.The three first vessels awarded will each have a 12,000 m3 cargo capacity.The long-term time charter agreements are for cross-border transport of CO₂ from commercial customers in Europe.

The Association of Maryland Pilots has taken delivery of a new Baltimore Class pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding.The vessel is a sistership to the first of its class delivered four years earlier.Built with an aluminum hull and based on the Ray Hunt Design deep-V, the launch measures 48.5 feet long, with a 15.6-foot beam and a 4-foot draft. Powered by twin Volvo Penta D13 diesel engines, the vessel can reach speeds of up to 30 knots, making it faster than larger offshore…

Breaux’s Bay Craft delivered its latest aluminum pilot vessel for the Houston Pilots. The first of two, M/V San Jacinto, is the newest addition to the fleet of high-performance pilot boats,designed for  precision, built for strength, and finished with a striking red, white, and blue color scheme that reflects the Gulf Coast heritage of the Houston Pilots.Measuring 80 x 21 feet wide, the San Jacinto is built with a new-generation inverted deep-V bottom hull, exceeds the rigorous operational demands of one of the busiest pilotage services in the U.S.

Technip Energies Loading Systems has secured a contract to supply three fully electric marine loading arms for phase 2 of the Northern Lights CO2 transport and storage project in Øygarden, Norway.The loading solution will be installed at the new Northern Lights jetty and will consist of three marine loading arms fully qualified to transfer liquefied CO2.For this second phase, Technip Energies Loading Systems will deliver a fully electric design, a first-of-a-kind eliminating the use of hydraulics and setting a new industry benchmark in terms of operability…

Svanehoj, an ITT company, acquired Germany-based Köhler & Hörter GmbH (KOHO Kompressorsysteme, or KOHO), a family-owned company specializing in high-quality compressors for a wide range of industries, including shipbuilding. The acquisition closed on October 1, 2025. In recent years, Svanehoj has expanded its position as a supplier of marine pumps, tank control systems, and related service solutions. The acquisition of KOHO Kompressorsysteme represents the next strategical step for Svanehoj in the gas segment as the global gas tanker market continues to grow.

The Association of Maryland Pilots has taken delivery of its fifth Chesapeake Class launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation since 2002. “The Maryland Pilots have some unique features and configuration control is essential to be sure their operators can seamlessly operate all the boats in their fleet. However, this must be balanced with new equipment and design updates, as well as, in some cases, retrofitting their existing boats. To make this happen over the span of 20 plus years requires a very high level of detail in the design and its execution…

The German government has adopted a new bill amending its Carbon Dioxide Storage Act to lay the legal groundwork for the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and cross-border transport of CO2.The draft law enables the transport, storage and use of CO2. It enables the construction of CO2 storage facilities for commercial use on an industrial scale within the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Marine protected areas…

UK-based Seabound will install a carbon capture system on the 5,700 GT cement carrier UBC Cork, owned by Hartmann Group and managed by InterMaritime.The captured carbon — bound in limestone — will be offloaded at the Port of Brevik, Norway, and used in Heidelberg Materials' Brevik cement plant. Recently inaugurated, this world-first industrial-scale carbon capture facility in the cement industry will produce net-zero concrete.Seabound's containerized carbon capture system uses calcium looping technology to capture up to 95% of CO₂2 and 98% of sulfur emissions from ship exhaust.

Iridium Communications and its partner Navarino are supporting the installation of Iridium Certus® terminals on a fleet of “K” Line Energy Shipping (UK) vessels operating worldwide.The Iridium Certus terminals are being utilized as a companion to Starlink terminals as part of “K” Line’s maritime hybrid connectivity solution.“K” Line is equipping its fleet with enhanced connectivity as it prepares to support Northern Lights Joint Venture, which offers CO2 transport and storage…

Benny Cenac Jr.’s Houma based Main Iron Works Company has completed the 10th boat newbuild for Ingram Marine Group. This partnership with Main Iron Works and Ingram began in 2021 and included the construction of 10 new towboats to be completed by the end of 2024. The first towboat, the Adrienne M. Moore was delivered to Ingram on March 30, 2021 with the 10th and last - M/V David North - delivered on January 29, 2025.M/V David North measures 69 x 30 x 10.5-ft. and is powered by twin Caterpillar C32 800 hp tier 3 diesel engines. It has a pair of Northern Lights 99kw generators.

INEOS selected ITT’s Svanehøj to supply CO₂ pumps for the onshore facility and the first LCO₂ carrier for Project Greensand in the Danish North Sea. This strategically significant order further strengthens Svanehøj’s position in carbon capture and storage (CCS), reinforcing its track record as a trusted specialist in critical equipment for liquefied gas.The INEOS-led Project Greensand will become the EU’s first full-scale CO₂ storage facility, contributing to climate change mitigation.

The Northern Pioneer, the world's first commercial liquefied CO2 transport ship, has arrived to Stavanger in Norway, ahead of moving to CO2 receiving facilities in Øygarden for commissioning.The 130-meter-long ship can transport 8,000 tonnes of liqued CO2 and is ready for operations in 2025.Northern Pioneer received blessings from her godmother Tina Bru – a Stavanger citizen and former Minister of Petroleum and Energy when the Longship project was proposed to the Norwegian Parliament in 2019.The ship…

All American Marine (AAM) has been contracted to design and build a 108’ x 32.5’ hybrid passenger vessel for Harbor Breeze Cruises that will operate in and around the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex.The vessel will be designed with twin MAN D2862 EPA Tier 4 engines, supplied by Northern Lights, and including an SCR system and a diesel particulate filter. The engines will drive fixed-pitch propellers via a remote-mounted Reinjtes gearbox provided by Karl Senner Inc.This system will also be fitted with a parallel hybrid battery propulsion system supplied by ABB.

Shipping is poised to play a vital role in APAC cross-border CCUS initiatives, with annual CO2 shipping volumes projected to reach 100 MtPA by 2050, according to a joint study by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).The study has identified that shipping will play a key role in enabling CCUS initiatives, particularly when there is a large geographical mismatch between potential captured CO2 sources and sequestration hubs.The report…

The Northern Lights JV has taken delivery of the Northern Pioneer, the first in a fleet of four CO2 transport ships, from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC).The Northern Pioneer is the first of its kind, custom designed to transport liquefied CO2 from capture sites in Europe to the Northern Lights receiving terminal.Northern Lights is the first company to offer commercial CO2 transport and storage as a service. The CO2 receiving facility in Øygarden, Norway, was completed in September.Northern Lights is a Joint Venture between Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell.

Equinor has been awarded the operatorship for the development of two new CO2 storages in the North Sea along with a 100% share for the two licenses, Albondigas and Kinno.The new licenses are each expected to have the capacity to store around 5 million tons of CO2 per year when in operation. This estimate will be further determined in the exploration phase.Equinor expects 4-8% real base project returns for its early phase CO2 storage business, and further value uplift potential…

Somerset, Mass. shipyard Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has delivered the first of the Boston Pilots’ two Chesapeake-class pilot boats undergoing a comprehensive refit.“The vessels are well used and well maintained. Only minor structural repairs were necessary so definitely worthy of refitting,” said Peter Duclos, the shipyard’s co-president.Along with installing new shafts and Brunton propellers, the 53’ all-aluminum pilot boat’s twin 600 hp Lugger L6140AL2 engines were replaced with a pair of Volvo Penta D-16 diesel engines…

The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Mobile, Ala., has taken delivery of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat, Mobile Pilot, from Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Delivery of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.With a length overall of 53.6’, a beam of 17.8’, and a draft of 4.6’, the new all-aluminum pilot boat, features the Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull. It is powered by twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines, each delivering 671Bhp at 2100 rpm and a top speed of 27 knots.

Bernhard Schulte ordered its first CO2 tanker, a newbuild to be constructed at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore (DSOC) and to showcase technologies designed to reduce its carbon footprint. Planned for delivery in 2026, the ship is committed to a long-term time charter agreement with Northern Lights.The newbuilding ordered now is the first ship of this type for the Bernhard Schulte fleet and the fourth CO2 carrier for Northern Lights. The joint venture, owned by Shell, TotalEnergies and Equinor…

Esgian has published its Week 48 Rig Market Roundup highlighting that new contract awards were revealed for a Velesto Drilling jackup, two Seadrill drillships and a Dolphin Drilling semisub. Meanwhile, Wintershall Dea is planning to drill a new carbon storage well in Norway.ContractsMalaysia’s Velesto Drilling has agreed on an extension of a contract with Carigali Hess Operating Company for another year and six months.Seadrill has secured a short-term contract for 12,000ft drillship West Vela in the US Gulf of Mexico with QuarterNorth Energy…

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted a selection of the most notable American newbuilds delivered of 2023—from a first-of-its-kind green towboat, to the lead vessel in a series of game-changing ships to train U.S. mariners.Empire StateAs the lead vessel in a series of five new training ships being constructed to serve America's state maritime academies, Empire State is easily one of the most important U.S.-built vessels delivered in recent memory.Built by Philly Shipyard for the U.S.

Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands have signed the Aalborg Declaration that aims at joint European cooperation on CO2 capture, use and storage (CCUS).CO2 capture, use and storage must be scaled up, both nationally and at European level, the countries agreed at the signing which occurred at the EU's CCUS Forum this week, hosted in Aalborg, Denmark."Today shows that there is European will, both among us decision-makers and among the industry - and with the Aalborg declaration we are moving closer to a common European market for CO2 capture, use and storage.