Shaping a sustainable future: how ‘Carbon Destroyer 1’ supports Project Greensand

In a world racing to reduce CO₂ emissions, innovative partnerships are redefining what’s possible in maritime logistics and offshore energy. One of the most ambitious examples is Project Greensand, led by INEOS Energy. This pioneering initiative in the Danish North Sea marks Europe’s first full-scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) value chain — from capturing industrial CO₂ to safely storing it beneath the seabed. At the heart of this operation lies a new class of vessel: Carbon Destroyer 1, designed, built and operated by Wagenborg and Royal Niestern Sander. Together, these partners are setting a new benchmark for scalable, reliable and sustainable CO₂ transport by sea.

For INEOS Energy, the need for scalable CCS solutions is both strategic and urgent. “We know we can’t decarbonise Europe without taking bold steps to manage emissions at source”, says Mads Weng Gade, CEO of INEOS Energy. “Project Greensand is not just a Danish project; it’s a blueprint for industrial decarbonisation across Europe. We needed partners who understood logistics at scale and could translate complexity into dependable operations — and Wagenborg delivered.”

The Carbon Destroyer 1 is the physical link in this chain — a purpose-built CO₂ carrier connecting emitters in Denmark with storage fields in the Danish North Sea. Once operational, the ship will transport captured CO₂ from industrial sites to the former Nini oil field, where it will be injected 1,800 meters below the seabed. Over time, the project will scale to store up to eight million tonnes of CO₂ annually, proving that maritime CCS can be both safe and commercially viable.

Overcoming industry barriers

For industrial decision-makers across Europe, CCS remains a topic surrounded by both promise and uncertainty. Many organizations face regulatory ambiguity, investment hesitancy and concerns about long-term liability. As Edwin de Vries, Director of Wagenborg Offshore, explains: “Our clients are eager to act but cautious to commit. They want certainty — in safety, cost, and scalability. That’s where operational excellence and maritime reliability come in.” 

Wagenborg’s role in Project Greensand extends beyond ship operations. The company acts as a technical and logistical integrator, ensuring that every tonne of CO₂ can be safely handled, shipped, and injected within tight environmental standards. “By making the transport phase transparent, repeatable, and verifiable, we lower the perceived risk for emitters”, adds Edwin. “That’s how you turn CCS from a one-off experiment into a dependable service.”

Addressing concerns: safety, transparency and value

Safety and environmental stewardship are at the core of the project. Every phase — from capture to injection — is subject to monitoring, certification and third-party verification under the EU’s CCS framework. 

“Transparency is non-negotiable”, says Mads. “Public confidence is built on evidence. Every molecule we capture and store must be traceable, measurable and accountable.” For industrial players, the practical value lies in scalability. The Carbon Destroyer 1 is not a prototype, but the first of a repeatable class. Wagenborg’s modular ship design allows future vessels to be adapted for different storage sites, payloads, or transport ranges — reducing costs per tonne as the network expands.

From local engineering to European climate impact

While Project Greensand is Danish-led, its ripple effects are European. The CO₂ transported to the North Sea originates from emitters across the continent and the technologies enabling this process — from storage systems to transport vessels — are developed across borders. “This collaboration proves that decarbonisation is a supply chain challenge, not a single-sector one”, says Fokke Jan. “Each partner contributes its own expertise — and the result is stronger than any one company could achieve alone.” For the Northern Netherlands, where Niestern Sander and Wagenborg are based, the project also represents a new industrial era. Building ships for the energy transition positions the region as a European hub for green maritime technology. “We’re not just exporting ships,” says Edwin. “We’re exporting climate capability.”

A model for scalable CCS

Project Greensand’s success lies in proving that CCS can operate safely at industrial scale — and that maritime transport can play a decisive role in connecting dispersed emitters with offshore storage. The Carbon Destroyer 1 demonstrates how existing maritime expertise can be retooled for climate impact, bridging the gap between innovation and implementation.

As Europe seeks to meet its 2040 and 2050 climate targets, scalable CCS will become indispensable. Projects like Greensand provide both a technological and a psychological breakthrough — turning abstract commitments into tangible, measurable action. “We’re showing the world that it can be done, safely and responsibly”, concludes Mads. “Now the task is to scale it.”

The road ahead

For Wagenborg, Niestern Sander and INEOS Energy, the journey does not end with the first voyage. Plans are already underway to expand the Carbon Destroyer concept into a fleet, connecting new emitters and storage hubs across Europe. “We see this as the start of a new logistics segment”, says Edwin. “A maritime bridge between industry and climate goals.”

From a shipyard in Delfzijl to the depths of the North Sea, the Carbon Destroyer 1 embodies the practical side of the energy transition — engineered precision, operational reliability, and cross-border cooperation. In doing so, it shows how industrial decarbonisation is not only possible, but scalable — one voyage at a time.