The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a maritime classification society, has awarded Approval in Principle (AIP) to a new liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) barge.
A first-of-its-kind tug and barge unit (ATB), the design is based on medium-pressure LCO2 Type-C tanks and can transport 20,000 tonnes of CO2.
Kent Merill, Vice-President of Marine Project at Aptamus, noted that ATBs are widely used in the US for transporting petroleum products, and that their advantages also make them well-suited for carrying CO2.
The LCO2 barge was developed by energy transport services firm Overseas Shipholding Group, the parent company of Aptamus Carbon Solutions, for the Tampa Regional Intermodal Carbon Hub (T-RICH) project.
The project aims to capture and transport at least two million metric tonnes of CO2 annually from Florida emitters. This CO2 will be liquefied and shipped to permanent storage sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Gareth Burton, Senior Vice-President of Global Engineering at ABS, described the transportation of CO2 as a vital part of the carbon value chain.
ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements, specifically including the latest ABS standards for building and classing liquefied gas tank barges.
