APTAMUS CARBON SOLUTIONS RECIEVES AiP FROM ABS FOR 20,000MT LCO2 ATB BARGE
May 22, 2025 - (Tampa, Florida) - Aptamus Carbon Solutions LLC (Aptamus), a subsidiary of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG), a leading U.S. flag provider of energy transportation, received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a first-of-its-kind articulated tug and barge (ATB) vessel system capable of transporting 20,000 mt of liquified carbon dioxide (LCO2) cargo.
ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements, including the latest ABS requirements for building and classing liquefied gas tank barges. The cargo handling system design is based on medium pressure LCO2 Type-C tanks, with maximum operating pressure determined by track record studies and market trends considering loading capacity and holding time. The ATB will be U.S.-flagged.
“The AiP issued by ABS represents another historic milestone in Aptamus’ journey to lead the development of CO2 storage and marine transportation in the United States,” said Jeffrey Ross Williams, Aptamus President. “For carbon capture to be adopted at a scale that will truly mitigate the serious impacts of climate change, companies like OSG and Aptamus are stepping up to develop the infrastructure assets that will store, process and transport captured CO2. With this ABS AiP, Aptamus takes another giant step in designing the technology required for success in achieving emission reduction goals and in pursuing new and exciting business opportunities in Florida and across the nation arising from the global energy transition,” said Williams.
“Aptamus is proud to have developed the first LCO2 vessel specifically designed for operation in the United States,” said Kent Merrill, Aptamus Vice President of Marine Projects. “ATBs are popular and effective in the U.S. for the carriage of petroleum products and those advantages hold true for LCO2 vessels as well. We look forward to the continued detailed development of the design, including designing the tug to utilize green methanol or other green fuels and technologies. We thank ABS for their valued partnership on this project, as well as other engineering contributors like Corban Energy Group and Herbert Engineering Corporation.”
“The safe transportation of CO2 plays a vital role in the carbon value chain, and ABS is proud to use our expertise as the world’s leading classification society for gas carriers to support this milestone project for U.S. operations,” said Gareth Burton, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering.
The proposed LCO2 ATB vessel will transport CO2 between Aptamus’ proposed Tampa Regional Intermodal Carbon Hub (T-RICH) terminal at Port Tampa Bay, Florida, where captured CO2 from emitters across Florida will be aggregated, to the discharge terminal at LBC Tank Terminals, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Aptamus is leading the design and engineering for these terminals in addition to the vessel design.
Aptamus’ 20,000 ton LCO2 ATB
ABS presenting the formal AiP to Aptamus - From left to right: Logan Floyd (ABS), Subramani Ragunathan (ABS), Dan Wesp (ABS), Jeffrey Williams (Aptamus), Kent Merrill (Aptamus), Keegan Plaskon (ABS), Rosevelt Fernandes (ABS), Mohamed Boukamcha (ABS), Dimitrios Bardakos (ABS), Jay Eun (ABS)
About Aptamus Carbon Solutions LLC
Aptamus is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSG and part of the Saltchuk family of companies. Aptamus pursues carbon reduction strategies for OSG’s maritime assets and is leading the development of CO2 storage and marine transportation infrastructure development in Florida. For more information on Aptamus, visit the company’s website at www.aptamus.com and www.osg.com
About American Bureau of Shipping
ABS is the world’s premier classification society for gas carriers with more than 50 years of experience, and ABS is leading the maritime industry in comprehensive sustainability solutions. Learn more here.