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On June 17, 2025, a naming ceremony for the liquefied carbon dioxide carrier, NORTHERN PATHFINDER, took place in Oslo, Norway. This vessel is the second of three ships built for Northern Lights JV DA, a collaboration focused on the delivery and storage of CO₂.
All three vessels are expected to be managed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd, known as K LINE, which has been appointed for their operational management. The event was attended by Norway’s Minister of Education, various government officials, and Northern Lights' Managing Director, Tim Heijn, along with participants from the mission. K LINE was represented by its Director and Board Chairperson, Yukikazu Myochin.
On the same day, Norway’s Ministry of Energy also hosted the Longship Launch Event, marking the official start of the Longship Project. As part of the festivities, members of the Norwegian Royal Family, senior government officials, and stakeholders had the opportunity to board the NORTHERN PATHFINDER on June 18.
This vessel is a crucial component of the world’s first international full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. It will transport liquefied CO₂ collected from industrial sites in Norway to a terminal in Øygarden, located on the country's west coast. From there, the captured carbon will be safely stored beneath the seabed of the North Sea.
The NORTHERN PATHFINDER was constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltd and was delivered on December 27, 2024. It has since arrived in Norway and is ready for operations. Northern Lights JV DA, which is overseeing this initiative, was established in March 2021 as a joint venture by Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. This company is responsible for the transportation and storage of liquefied CO₂ as part of the Longship Project, which is led by the Norwegian government.
The Longship Project encompasses all essential stages of CCS, including capture, transportation, and permanent storage of CO₂. Northern Lights specifically handles the delivery and storage phases. The initiative aims to facilitate large-scale CO₂ reduction, particularly from commercial sources.
K LINE confirmed that the vessel will be operated by its London-based subsidiary, K LINE ENERGY SHIPPING UK LIMITED. They also announced that both the NORTHERN PATHFINDER and the first ship, NORTHERN PIONEER, will begin transporting CO₂ this summer.
