Purpose-built as a technology demonstrator for liquefied CO₂ transportation on the Japanese coast, the 72m Excool was formally handed over by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding on 28 November.

Chartered by Nippon Gas Line from contractual shipowner Sanyu Kisen of Kobe, the gas tanker will serve as a test ship for a series of research projects conducted under the auspices of the Japanese New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is regarded by its proponents as an effective solution towards the attainment of carbon neutrality.