The Carbon Destroyer 1, Europe’s first offshore DP2 CO2 carrier, has left its home port Delfzijl after completing two sea trials in the North Sea, writes Royal Wagenborg on its website. With these tests concluded, the vessel moves closer to its upcoming deployment to Esbjerg, where it will become part of Project Greensand’s offshore CO2 storage chain, led by INEOS Energy.
Source: Royal Wagenborg
The trials took place off the Dutch coast and focused on propulsion, manoeuvrability, DP2 performance and all other equipment and systems. Built by Royal Niestern Sander and operated by Wagenborg, the vessel is the first of its kind in Europe: a 149.95‑metre dedicated DP2 offshore CO2 carrier designed specifically for shuttle transport between Esbjerg and the Nini field, Denmark’s first operational offshore CO2 storage site.
Based on the proven EasyMax design, the ship features a cargo capacity of approximately 5000 tonnes of liquefied CO2 and meets the highest standards for safety, fuel efficiency, and low emissions. With its 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.
With a cargo capacity of about 5000 tonnes of liquefied CO2 and a
Also read: Wagenborg and INEOS launch CO2 carrier as Carbon Destroyer 1
Integrated DP2 and cargo systems assessed
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.
Preparing for final commissioning phase
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.
Picture by Royal Wagenborg.
Also read: Wagenborg reveals next-gen EasyMax and orders six
