The shortsea shipping company Royal Wagenborg is approaching the commissioning of the “Carbon Destroyer 1” – the first CO2 tanker built in Europe to enable carbon capture and storage (CCS) throughout Europe.
Wagenborg and project partner and charterer Ineos Energy have now celebrated the launch and christening of the special ship at the Dutch shipyard Niestern Sander.
The “Easymax” vessel represents “an important breakthrough for the Greensand project and carbon capture and storage in the EU”, according to a statement from the Dutch shipping company, whose fleet now comprises over 160 units, mainly spread across the shortsea, tugboat, offshore special and MPP segments. Catherine Ratcliffe, the ship’s godmother, performed the traditional naming ceremony.
The vessel has been designed for the safe and efficient transportation of liquefied CO₂ and will play a crucial role in the Greensand project in the Danish North Sea, which is being led by Ineos Energy. It is “ground-breaking” and the first of its kind to be built entirely in Europe and specifically designed for offshore CCS operations, the shipping company added.
Wagenborg’s new build is based on EasyMax design
Wagenborg CEO Egbert Vuursteen expressed his pride and called the launch a “defining moment for Wagenborg”. “Carbon Destroyer 1” combines “more than a century of maritime experience with a pioneering vision of sustainability”. Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of Ineos, emphasized: “We are demonstrating that carbon storage is economically feasible and a far better way to decarbonize Europe without deindustrializing it.”
The vessel, based on the EasyMax design, has a cargo capacity of around 5,000 tons of liquefied CO2. Its design and DP2 capabilities are intended to ensure that it can operate reliably and year-round in various offshore conditions. Mads Weng Gade, CEO of Ineos Energy Europe, said: “Carbon Destroyer 1 will transport captured CO2 from across Europe, creating a virtual pipeline between the site of capture and permanent storage deep below the seabed of the North Sea. The delivery of the first dedicated offshore CO2 carrier is a prerequisite for CCS on a commercial scale across the continent.”
