Europe’s first offshore CO2 carrier aims to launch on 14 May, according to Ineos Energy Europe.
All ship sections of the vessel are now assembled at Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the north Netherlands, under the watch of global maritime logistics firm Royal Wagenborg.
With the completion of the hull, the vessel is in the final phase of construction, which includes fitting, commissioning, testing, and sea trials.
Mads Gade, CEO of Ineos Energy Europe, part of UK-headquartered Ineos Group, said it marked a “giant step forward” for CO2 transportation 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, [Project] Greensand [is] getting closer to completing Europe’s first full CCS value chain.”
The vessel is designed to transport liquefied CO2 from onshore capture sites to offshore storage in the Danish part of the North Sea.
Once operational, the carrier will sail regular routes from Port Esbjerg to the Nini West platform, where the CO2 will be injected for permanent storage to the Nini reservoir approximately 1,800 metres beneath the seabed.
The ship is tailored to specific technical requirements for CO2 transport, including onboard cooling and pressure systems.
Project Greensand aims to begin regular offshore CO2 injections by the end of this year or early next. The initial phase targets permanent storage of 400,000 tonnes annually, potentially scaling up to 8 million tonnes by 2030.
The number of CO2-carrying ships on order is hard to verify, though it is estimated around 55 dedicated CO2 carriers are expected to be needed by 2030.
The Northern Pioneer – billed as the world’s first commercial liquefied CO2 transport ship – arrived in Norway to serve the Northern Lights project in February.
