Dutch-designed CO2 tug-barge combination gets BV approval in principle

Netherlands-based Carbon Collectors has received an approval in principle (AIP) from classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) for a CO2 tug-barge combination and its associated offshore single point mooring system.

The tug-barge combination will be used to transport CO2 as part of a Dutch initiative that seeks to develop CO2 storage facilities at both offshore and land-based sites.

The initiative has a long-term goal of establishing a total CO2 storage capacity of 100 million tonnes across the southern North Sea.

Carbon Collectors aims to deploy at least two tug-barge units for each of its customers. Each barge will have capacity for 5,500 cubic metres of CO2.

Carbon Collectors’ partners on the project include shipyard Royal Nistern Sander, shipping company Royal Wagenborg, and SBM Offshore subsidiary Imodco. Imodco will supply tower loading units that will operate as interfaces between the barges and offshore gas fields where the transported CO2 will be stored.

The partners expect the first vessels to be in service by 2023.