- The launch of Carbon Destroyer 1, Europe’s first dedicated offshore CO₂ carrier, marks a milestone in the development of Project Greensand and the continent’s first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain.
- INEOS Energy and Royal Wagenborg, in collaboration with the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard, are leading the way in enabling large-scale carbon transport and offshore sequestration in the North Sea.
- The vessel will operate from a new CO₂ terminal in Esbjerg, Denmark, and is expected to become fully operational by late 2025 or early 2026, creating a scalable CCS solution across Europe.
INEOS Energy and Royal Wagenborg have officially launched and named Carbon Destroyer 1, the first European-built offshore CO₂ carrier. This event marks a transformative step forward for Project Greensand and the EU’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) ambitions, establishing a commercial-scale infrastructure to safely transport and permanently store carbon emissions.
The naming ceremony was held at the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the Netherlands, with Lady Catherine Ratcliffe serving as the vessel’s godmother. The launch highlights a strategic partnership between INEOS and Wagenborg that blends maritime heritage with climate innovation.
Leadership Statements: A Turning Point for CCS
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, stated:
“The launch of Carbon Destroyer 1 is an important next step for Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe. We are demonstrating that Carbon Storage is commercially viable and a far better way to decarbonise Europe without its deindustrialisation.”
Egbert Vuursteen, CEO of Royal Wagenborg, added:
“This launch is a defining moment for Wagenborg. It combines over a century of maritime experience with a forward-looking vision of sustainability. As the first European-built offshore CO₂ carrier, this vessel positions us — and our partners — at the forefront of the energy transition in Europe.”
Innovation in Design and Environmental Standards
Based on Wagenborg’s EasyMax platform, the Carbon Destroyer 1 has been specially engineered to handle liquefied CO₂ under pressure and at low temperatures. The vessel is built to meet the highest environmental and safety standards and is designed to support the growing need for sustainable maritime solutions in carbon transport.
Operational Role in Project Greensand
Under Project Greensand, Denmark aims to establish itself as a key CO₂ storage hub in Europe. The Carbon Destroyer 1 will link CO₂ emitters across Europe with permanent offshore storage sites, forming a “virtual pipeline” from capture to injection.
According to Mads Weng Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy Europe:
“Carbon Destroyer 1 will transport captured CO₂ from across Europe, creating a virtual pipeline between the point of capture and permanent storage deep beneath the seabed of the North Sea.”
The vessel is slated to become fully operational by late 2025 or early 2026, coinciding with the start of Project Greensand’s commercial offshore CO₂ injection operations.
New CO₂ Terminal in Esbjerg: Enabling Infrastructure
To support operations, a new CO₂ terminal is under construction in the Port of Esbjerg, Denmark. This facility will act as the onshore hub for receiving, temporarily storing, and transferring captured CO₂ to the vessel. Key features will include:
- Six large storage tanks
- Supporting infrastructure for continuous CO₂ handling
- Initial deliveries of CO₂ from Danish biogas plants
Once loaded onto Carbon Destroyer 1, the liquefied CO₂ will be transported to the Nini West offshore platform, where it will be injected into depleted oil reservoirs over 1,800 metres beneath the seabed, certified for safe and long-term storage.
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Source: Ineos
