INEOS has announced the completion of Europe’s first offshore CO₂ carrier, a major milestone in the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure across the EU.
Built at the Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the north of the Netherlands, the vessel is a key component of Project Greensand, which aims to establish the EU’s first full-scale operational CO₂ storage facility. The ship will transport liquefied CO₂ from onshore capture sites via Port Esbjerg in Denmark to the Nini West platform in the Danish North Sea, where it will be injected into certified geological formations approximately 1,800 meters below the seabed.
The completion of all sections of the CO2 vessel is a giant step forward for transportation of CO2 in the EU. This ship is essential to our ambition of establishing the first full-scale CO₂ storage facility in the EU. With the carrier now entering its next construction phase, Greensand are getting closer to completing Europe’s first full CCS value chain
… said Mads Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy Europe.
This specially designed vessel, developed in partnership with Wagenborg Offshore, is equipped with advanced cooling and pressure systems tailored for CO₂ transport. Construction has reached a phase with all major sections assembled and work progressing toward commissioning and sea trials.
Following the final investment decision in December 2024, Greensand plans to begin regular CO₂ storage operations by late 2025 or early 2026. The initial phase targets the storage of 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually with scalability up to 8 million tonnes per year by 2030.
We are proud to reach this important milestone together with INEOS for the Project Greensand. The vessel is the first of its kind made in the EU and shows how the maritime industry in the North of the Netherlands can contribute to the energy transition. Construction is progressing steadily and according to plan
… commented Edwin de Vries, Director of Wagenborg Offshore.
To remind, it was recently announced that Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) is participating in NavHyS, a new European research project aimed at advancing the use of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) in maritime applications.
