ABS Greenlights Innovative LCO2 Barge for U.S. Maritime Use

Image Credits: ABS/X

ABS has given the green light to Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG), which is the parent company of Aptamus Carbon Solutions, for their innovative design of a liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) barge.

This barge is a key element of the Tampa Regional Intermodal carbon Hub (T-RICH) initiative, aimed at capturing and processing emissions from various Florida industries before transporting them to designated sequestration sites.

What makes this project stand out is that it features an articulated tug and barge unit (ATB), marking a frist in the U.S. for carbon capture operations.The design incorporates medium pressure LCO2 Type-C tanks, allowing it to carry up to 20,000 metric tons of cargo efficiently.

The maximum operating pressure was established through extensive research on industry trends and ancient data while factoring in loading capacity and retention time.

ABS conducted thorough design evaluations based on class standards,ensuring compliance wiht their latest guidelines for liquefied gas tank barges.

“The secure transport of CO2 is crucial within the carbon value chain,” stated Gareth Burton, Senior Vice President at ABS Global Engineering. “We’re excited to leverage our expertise as a leading classification society for gas carriers in support of this groundbreaking project.”

Jeffrey Ross Williams,President of Aptamus,expressed enthusiasm about this AiP milestone: “This represents another notable step forward in our mission to spearhead CO2 storage and marine transport solutions across the U.S.” He emphasized that this approval aligns with national emission reduction objectives while opening doors for new business ventures amid global energy shifts.

Kent Merrill, Vice President of Marine Projects at Aptamus added his thoughts: “We’re thrilled to introduce what we believe is the first LCO2 vessel tailored specifically for U.S. coastal waters.” He noted that ATBs have proven effective in transporting petroleum products due to their numerous advantages—benefits that will also apply when moving LCO2. Looking ahead, he mentioned plans for further refining designs with an eye toward integrating green methanol or other enduring fuels into operations.Merrill also acknowledged valuable partnerships with engineering firms like Corban Energy Group and Herbert Engineering Corporation throughout this journey.Press Release