ABS awards approval to a new LCO2 barge design

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has approved the preliminary design of a liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) barge developed by US-based maritime transport company Overseas Shipholding Group.

IMAGE: Overseas Shipholding Group’s LCO2 barge design concept. ABS

The articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit is the first of its kind designed to support carbon capture projects in the US, according to ABS.

An ATB is a system where a tugboat is mechanically linked to a barge, allowing them to operate as a single, connected unit. This unit will feature a cargo handling system built around medium-pressure LCO2 tanks. It can transport up to 20,000 mt of LCO2.

The barge design plays a central role in the Tampa Regional Intermodal Carbon Hub (T-RICH) project. T-RICH will receive, store and process industrial emissions from Florida for transport to regional carbon sequestration sites.

“Articulated tugs and barges (ATBs) are popular and effective in the US for the carriage of petroleum products for several reasons, and those advantages hold true for LCO2 vessels as well,” said Kent Merrill, vice president of marine projects at Aptamus Carbon Solutions.

Aptamus Carbon Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Overseas Shipholding Group.

By Tuhin Roy

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online