COSCO names world’s first ship-based marine factory for CO₂ capture

On 20 February, the world’s first Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit equipped with offshore Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology was named AGOGO FPSO at COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry in Shanghai.

This vessel stands as one of the most environmentally friendly FPSOs globally, according to the Chinese company’s statement.

Transformed from a 320,000-dwt ultra-large crude oil carrier, this “offshore gigafactory” underwent extensive modifications with COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry Shanghai which oversaw the majority of module lifting operations and all integration tasks.

Upon delivery, AGOGO FPSO is set to operate in Angola’s Block 15/06 West Hub area, situated around 180 kilometers offshore at depths reaching 1,650 meters. Once operational, it will have a daily oil production capacity of 120,000 barrels and boast an oil storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels, earning it the distinction of being the “world’s greenest FPSO.”

During its time docked at COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry, AGOGO FPSO demonstrated a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It achieved this by capturing CO₂ from the exhaust of onboard gas turbines, a process estimated to decrease carbon emission by approximately 27%.

Furthermore, AGOGO incorporates emission reduction technologies including electrification, automation, digitalization, combined cycle power systems, seawater turbine generators, steam generators, hydrocarbon cargo tank inerting systems, and an integrated closed flare system. These advancements collectively contribute to a significant reduction in overall carbon emissions while enhancing operational efficiency.

With these innovations, AGOGO is projected to cut CO₂ emissions by roughly 230,000 tons annually.

It is reported that COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry Shanghai has successfully executed over 15,000 tons of upper module lifting and more than 100,000 meters of cable installation for the AGOGO FPSO project, in addition to collaborating on the intricate commissioning processes. According to the announcement, all renovation tasks were accomplished a full month ahead of schedule, setting a new global benchmark for the fastest turnaround in FPSO retrofitting.

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