Northern Lights expands CO₂ fleet with K LINE, MISC charter deal

Northern Lights expands CO2 network with new 12,000-cubic-metre carrier.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE) and MISC Berhad have secured a time charter contract for a newly built 12,000-cubic-metre liquefied carbon dioxide carrier from Northern Lights JV DA.

The vessel will be constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co., Ltd., and will operate under a charter agreement to support cross-border carbon dioxide transport in Europe.

The contract follows a separate time charter agreement signed on 29 January 2026 for another 12,000-cubic-metre liquefied carbon dioxide carrier, with both vessels forming part of Northern Lights’ transport system.

K LINE currently manages operations for three 7,500-cubic-metre liquefied carbon dioxide carriers serving Northern Lights.

The company works with MISC through an existing partnership in the liquefied natural gas carrier segment.

Northern Lights—a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies—provides carbon dioxide transport and storage services for European industrial emitters.

It began operations in 2025 with an annual carbon dioxide transport and storage capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, with plans to expand capacity to more than five million tonnes per year from the second half of 2028.

K LINE stated it will apply operational experience from liquefied carbon dioxide carriers in future business development under its environmental strategy.