Europe’s First Homegrown CO2 Carrier Sets Sail for a Carbon-Neutral Future

The Carbon Destroyer 1 Is a Floating Lifeline for Europe’s CCS Ambitions

Europe’s fight against climate change just got a seafaring ally. INEOS and Royal Wagenborg have unveiled the Carbon Destroyer 1, the continent’s first purpose-built offshore CO2 carrier, designed to shuttle captured emissions from industrial sites to permanent storage beneath the North Sea. This isn’t just a ship—it’s the backbone of Project Greensand and a critical piece of the EU’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) puzzle. With its pressurized, cryogenic tanks and ice-class hull, the vessel is engineered to handle liquefied CO2 at -50°C while meeting stringent safety protocols. “This is infrastructure for the energy transition,” says an INEOS spokesperson. “We’re building highways for CO2.”

The Carbon Destroyer 1 turns the North Sea into a carbon sink. It’s not science fiction—it’s logistics. — Project Greensand engineer

Based on Wagenborg’s fuel-efficient EasyMax design, the 138-meter carrier is optimized for the harsh conditions of the North Sea. By late 2025 or early 2026, it will begin shuttling between Denmark’s Port of Esbjerg and the Nini West platform, where CO2 will be injected 1,800 meters below the seabed into depleted oil reservoirs. The route isn’t random: Denmark aims to become Europe’s CO2 storage hub, leveraging its offshore geology and existing energy infrastructure. “This is about scale,” says a Wagenborg representative. “One ship can transport 20,000 cubic meters of liquefied CO2 per trip—equivalent to taking 10,000 cars off the road annually.”

From Biogas to Bedrock: The CO2 Supply Chain Takes Shape

The missing link? A land-based terminal to feed the Carbon Destroyer 1. Construction is underway in Esbjerg for a CO2 hub featuring six storage tanks and loading arms to transfer liquefied emissions onto the carrier. Initially, CO2 will arrive by truck from Danish biogas plants—a stopgap until pipelines connect heavier emitters like steel and cement plants. “Think of it as a reverse gas station,” quips a project manager. “Instead of filling up, we’re emptying out.” The terminal’s modular design allows expansion as CCS demand grows, with potential to serve Germany, Belgium, and beyond.

For skeptics who dismiss CCS as a niche solution, the numbers tell a different story. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2050, global CCS capacity must reach 7.6 billion tons annually—a 200-fold increase from today. Projects like this prove the technology is ready to scale. “Europe’s carbon market needs this infrastructure,” argues a Brussels policymaker. “Without it, heavy industries have no path to net zero.” As the Carbon Destroyer 1 prepares for its maiden voyage, one thing is clear: the race to decarbonize just found its workhorse.