The vibrant purple and turquoise vessel, Northern Pathfinder, is ready for its maiden voyage to Norway. It docked at Tanjong Pagar Terminal in Singapore on January 16 and 17. This ship stands out for its role in the world’s first cross-border carbon capture and storage project, known as Northern Lights.
Measuring 130 meters long, the Northern Pathfinder features two tanks that can hold approximately 8,000 tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2). Built in a Chinese shipyard, the vessel travels to Norway, where an interim storage facility awaits to receive the CO2. From there, the liquid will flow to a vault beneath the North Sea.
Powered by liquefied natural gas, the Northern Pathfinder recently refueled in Singapore. It is part of a joint initiative led by Shell, TotalEnergies, and Equinor. This project aims to establish a commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) market in Europe.
On January 17, media and industry representatives toured the ship to explore its capabilities. The Northern Pathfinder is one of four ships in Shell’s fleet designed to transport captured CO2. The sister ship, Northern Pioneer, departed China for Norway in November 2024.
Shell’s general manager of CCS for the Asia-Pacific, Zharin Zhafrael Mohd, emphasized shipping’s critical role in the region’s CCS goals. She explained, “The Asia-Pacific is largely an archipelago, making shipping essential for effective carbon capture and storage.”
The consortium plans to develop a CCS project aimed at permanently storing 2,500 kilotonnes of CO2 each year by 2030. They will utilize geological formations in regions like Brunei, Malaysia, and Australia. With rising carbon taxes and increased interest in decarbonization, Singapore actively collaborates with regional partners to advance carbon capture initiatives.
Source: The Strait Times
