First European-built offshore CO₂ carrier to be christened and launched on May 14

Built under a long-term agreement with INEOS, a leading partner in Project Greensand, the ship is based on Wagenborg’s proven EasyMax concept and is being constructed by Royal Niestern Sander. Once operational, the carrier will transport captured CO₂ to the Nini West offshore platform in the Danish North Sea—supporting the complete CCS value chain: capture, transport, and permanent offshore storage.

“The completion of the ship’s hull is a giant step forward for transportation of CO₂ in the EU,” says Mads Weng Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy. “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 is getting closer to completing Europe’s first full CCS value chain.”

The construction of this unique vessel in the Netherlands underscores the innovative spirit of northern Dutch shipbuilding. Wagenborg and Royal Niestern Sander have previously pioneered game-changing vessels such as ‘walk-to-work’ offshore support ships and the EasyMax series.

“We are proud to reach this important milestone together with INEOS for Project Greensand,” says Edwin de Vries, Director of Wagenborg Offshore. “This is the first vessel of its kind made in Europe and a shining example of how the maritime industry in the North of the Netherlands is contributing to the energy transition.”

The landmark agreement between INEOS and Wagenborg for the delivery of this new-build CO₂ carrier was signed in November 2024, in the presence of HM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and HM King Frederik of Denmark.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.