Wagenborg-operated vessel Carbon Destroyer 1 to shuttle captured CO₂ to Denmark’s first offshore storage site
Europe’s first offshore DP2 CO₂ carrier, Carbon Destroyer 1, has departed Delfzijl following the successful completion of two sea trials in the North Sea, clearing the way for its upcoming deployment in Denmark.
The trials, carried out off the Dutch coast, focused on validating propulsion, manoeuvrability, DP2 performance and the functionality of onboard systems and equipment. With these tests concluded, the vessel moves a significant step closer to entering service as part of Project Greensand, led by INEOS Energy.
The 149.95-metre DP2 CO₂ carrier has been purpose-built for offshore CO₂ transport, enabling shuttle operations between Esbjerg and the Nini field—Denmark’s first operational offshore CO₂ storage site.
Carbon Destroyer 1 was constructed by Royal Niestern Sander and will be operated by Wagenborg. The vessel’s DP2 capability is designed to support safe and reliable offshore positioning during CO₂ transfer operations, marking a key development in the scaling of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure in the North Sea.
With a cargo capacity of about 5,000 tonnes of liquefied CO₂ and a 36‑hour shuttle cycle, the ship will be able to transport approximately 600,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. This scale makes the vessel a key operational link in enabling industrial CO₂ storage at sea.
The Carbon Destroyer 1 represents a completely new vessel segment. Unlike conventional tankers, its design is fully driven by the thermodynamic behaviour of liquefied CO₂, requiring specialised tanks, integrated safety zones, and a high‑redundancy energy and propulsion layout. All critical systems—cargo handling, DP2 positioning, energy supply and control systems—are engineered as one integrated whole.
The successful sea trials confirm that the ship’s dual-role concept—combining offshore station‑keeping with tanker‑grade cargo management—performs as intended. The DP2 system maintained position within the required tolerances, while the vessel demonstrated stable behaviour under varying weather and load conditions up to the thresholds defined during design.
With the trial programme now completed, the vessel will undergo final inspections and operational preparations before sailing to Esbjerg. There it will enter the final phase of commissioning together with the onshore and offshore systems of Project Greensand. Once operational later this year, the Carbon Destroyer 1 will begin regular shuttle operations between Denmark and the Nini field—marking the start of industrial‑scale offshore CO₂ storage in Europe.
