This document provides insights into the essential aspects of CO₂ shipping and provides basic descriptions of how a CO₂ carrier and its technology therein is technically integrated with the CCS value chain. This document describes specific challenges of transporting CO₂ as cargo, how this differs from other gases transported by ships today, and how this influences the ship's design and operation. Finally, this document introduces how CO₂ ships are regulated within the existing international maritime regulatory framework.

This document’s main focus is on the technical aspects of CO₂ shipping. Commercial, liability and financial aspects are not covered in this document. However, general reference to commercial impact is made where relevant.

This document focuses on the ship transportation of CO₂ between loading and offloading facilities where the system boundaries are at the ship manifold equipment that connects the ship to the other components in the value chain. In this document, the basis for the description of ship operation is transportation between two shore-based terminals. A high-level description of other relevant interfaces is given on a conceptual level as this has an impact on the ship's design. However, any further descriptions of potential solutions upstream and downstream from the CO₂ carrier are not covered in this document. This document also gives a high-level description of the physical properties of CO₂ streams at the conditions relevant for shipping and how relevant impurities can impact the ship and ship operation.