Europe's first CO2 tanker prepares for launch

All ship sections of Europe's first offshore CO₂ carrier have now been successfully constructed and assembled at Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the north of the Netherlands.

INEOS Energy Europe and Wagenborg Offshore signed a contract for the newbuild in November 2024.

The vessel is specifically designed to transport liquefied CO₂ from onshore capture sites to offshore storage in the Danish part of the North Sea. Once launched and operational, the carrier will sail regular routes from Port Esbjerg to the Nini West platform, where the CO₂ will be injected for storage to the Nini reservoir approximately 1,800 metres beneath the seabed.

The ship was tailored to the specific technical requirements of CO₂ transport, including onboard cooling and pressure systems. With the completion of the ship’s hull, the vessel enters the next phase of construction, which includes retrofitting, commissioning, testing, and sea trials.