Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Acquires Approval in Principle (AIP) from France’s Classification Society for Spherical Cargo Tank System for LCO₂ Carriers
-- Part of Company’s Strategy to Develop and Provide Optimal Marine Solutions --

Tokyo, June 8, 2022 – Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired Approval in Principle (AIP)(Note1) from the French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) for a spherical cargo tank system for liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carriers. A presentation ceremony was held on June 7 at the Metropolitan Expo exhibition center in Athens, Greece, venue for the international shipping exhibition Posidonia 2022.

LCO₂ carriers transport liquefied CO₂ gas in cargo tanks in a low-temperature, high-pressure state. For that reason, independent Type C tanks as defined by the IGC Code(Note2) are typically used for the cargo tank system of such vessels. Until now, various tank structures have been available, including cylindrical, bilobed and trilobed designs. Now, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has succeeded in developing a spherical cargo tank system for LCO₂ carriers, applying its advanced technologies in structural analysis and material evaluation cultivated through the design and construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers equipped with spherical tanks. Development of the new spherical structure for LCO₂ carriers resulted in acquisition of the AIP from BV.

Compared with cylindrical, bilobed and trilobed options, spherically shaped tanks offer greater structural strength against internal pressure of the tank. The adoption of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s spherical cargo tank system is expected to further optimization of ship arrangement and enhance the economic performance of LCO₂ carriers.

As part of the energy transition strategy being promoted by MHI Group, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has established a growth strategy called “MARINE FUTURE STREAM vision for 2050”. The strategy focuses on two overarching targets: “decarbonization of the maritime economy” through use of renewable energies and carbon recycling, and “safe and secure future for society” through autonomous operation and electrification. The company seeks to achieve these dual goals through creation and implementation of marine-related innovations. With acquisition of the new AIP for its spherical cargo tank system for LCO₂ carriers, going forward Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will ever more actively pursue the development of LCO₂ carriers and related business as a marine system integrator. At the same time, the company will also dedicate its full resources to developing and providing technologies to respond flexibly to the diverse LCO₂ carrier needs of the market to build a CCUS(Note3) value chain – with the ultimate goal of achieving a CCUS value chain straddling land and sea, to realize a decarbonized society.

• 1Approval in Principle (AIP) indicates that a certification body has reviewed an item’s basic design and confirmed that it meets technical requirements and safety standards. Inspection of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s spherical cargo tank system was conducted based on the IGC Code as it applies to marine vessels that transport liquefied gas in bulk, as well as BV’s own classification regulations.
• 2The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) is an international regulation stipulating the safety requirements for ships that transport LCO₂, LNG, or other liquefied gases as cargo in bulk.
• 3CCUS: carbon capture, utilization and storage

Image movie of LCO₂ Carrier