Northern Lights Doubles Down on LCO2 Fleet Expansion with Second K Line and MISC Charter

## Northern Lights Expands LCO2 Fleet with Back-to-Back Charters Northern Lights, the carbon capture and storage (CCS) joint venture, has awarded a second long-term time charter contract for a 12,000-cubic-metre liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier to a consortium comprising Japan's Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line) and Malaysia's MISC Berhad, according to reports from gCaptain and Splash247. The latest contract follows closely on the heels of a previous time charter agreement signed on 29 January 2026 for an identical 12,000 cu m LCO2 vessel — also awarded to the same K Line and MISC partnership. The rapid succession of these contracts underscores Northern Lights' intent to build out a dedicated fleet capable of supporting large-scale CO2 transport operations in Europe and beyond. ### A Growing Market for Carbon Shipping Northern Lights is a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, and forms a central pillar of Norway's Longship CCS project — one of the world's first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage initiatives. The venture is responsible for the maritime transport and subsea storage of captured CO2, making purpose-built LCO2 carriers a critical infrastructure component. The 12,000 cu m vessel specification represents a mid-scale capacity suited to the current phase of CCS ramp-up, as industrial emitters across Europe begin contracting CO2 transport and storage services. Analysts have noted that demand for specialised LCO2 tonnage is expected to grow substantially through the late 2020s and into the 2030s as regulatory pressure and carbon pricing incentivise industrial decarbonisation. ### K Line and MISC Strengthen CCS Credentials For K Line and MISC, securing back-to-back charters from Northern Lights cements their position as leading operators in the nascent LCO2 shipping segment. Both companies have been actively investing in next-generation vessel types as part of broader energy transition strategies. MISC, a subsidiary of Malaysian national oil company Petronas, has been expanding its presence in specialised gas and clean energy shipping, while K Line has similarly prioritised low-carbon and alternative-fuel vessel development. The repeated selection of the same consortium suggests a high degree of confidence in the partners' technical and operational capabilities for this demanding cargo type, which requires precise temperature and pressure management during transport. ### Outlook As CCS infrastructure scales up across Europe and Asia, the LCO2 carrier market is transitioning from a niche concept to a recognised shipping segment. Northern Lights' fleet expansion signals that commercial carbon logistics are moving from pilot phase to operational reality — a development that will be closely watched by shipowners, charterers, and energy companies alike. *Sources: gCaptain, Splash247*