A landmark in Europe’s climate ambitions took shape this week as Royal Wagenborg and INEOS Energy celebrated the christening and launch of the Carbon Destroyer 1, the first European-built offshore CO₂ carrier purpose-built for carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The vessel was officially named by Lady Catherine Ratcliffe during a traditional ceremony at the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the Netherlands. The event marked a major step forward for Project Greensand, which aims to scale CCS operations in the Danish North Sea.
CO₂ Shipping Comes of Age in Europe
The Carbon Destroyer 1 is designed to safely transport around 5,000 tons of liquefied CO₂, bridging the gap between industrial emitters and offshore storage sites. It’s not just another ship; it’s a working proof of concept that CCS is becoming operationally and commercially viable in Europe.
The vessel’s specifications reflect this maturity. Built on the proven EasyMax hull design, the ship incorporates DP2 dynamic positioning systems, advanced safety protocols, and optimized fuel use. These features ensure it operates reliably year-round—even in the rough waters of the North Sea—while minimizing environmental impact.
For Egbert Vuursteen, CEO of Royal Wagenborg, the moment is more than symbolic. “This launch is a defining moment for Wagenborg,” he said. “It positions us—and our partners—at the forefront of the energy transition in Europe.”
Industrial Scale Without Industrial Decline
The shipping of captured carbon might sound futuristic, but this vessel grounds it in current infrastructure. According to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, the Carbon Destroyer 1 helps answer one of Europe’s most pressing questions: how do you decarbonize without dismantling heavy industry?
“We’re showing that carbon storage is not just science fiction. It’s commercially viable and a far better route than shutting down the backbone of European industry,” Ratcliffe noted during the ceremony.
The Carbon Destroyer 1 will be used in the Greensand project, which plans to permanently store CO₂ deep beneath the seabed. The goal is to create what Mads Weng Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy Europe, called a “virtual pipeline” between the source of emissions and the offshore sink.
A Ship Built on Regional Strength
It’s no coincidence the vessel came to life in the Northern Netherlands, a region long rooted in shipbuilding and offshore engineering. The project leveraged the full capabilities of the Dutch maritime cluster, a fact not lost on industry stakeholders.
“All available knowledge, the craftsmanship, the innovation—it rivals the very best globally,” said Edwin de Vries, Director of Wagenborg Offshore. He also pointed to the broader need for continued investment in maritime ecosystems. “The challenges ahead—energy transition, digitalization—demand even more cooperation and creativity.”
The Carbon Destroyer 1 isn’t just a technical achievement; it’s a strategic one. It puts Europe’s maritime sector directly into the flow of climate action—transporting captured carbon from smokestack to seabed.
