Höegh Autoliners takes delivery of its first of 12 Aurora Class vessels

Ro-roThe HÖEGH AURORA has been delivered to Höegh Autoliners from China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (CMHI). This is the first of 12 multi-fuel, 9,100 CEU capacity Aurora class vessels that will be delivered to the group.

The HÖEGH AURORA will cut carbon emissions per car transported by up to 58 percent compared to a standard 6,500 CEU PCTC (Cat 1).

The vessel is equipped with DNV's "ammonia ready" and "methanol ready" notations.
The first eight Aurora Class vessels will run on LNG but are designed to be converted to run on ammonia. The ammonia engine technology will be ready in 2026, allowing them to build the last four vessels to run on ammonia from the start. These vessels will be delivered in 2027 and will become the world's first (direct) emission-free vessels in the segment.

Höegh Autoliners CEO, Andreas Enger, says:

"With HÖEGH AURORA and the Aurora Class, we are pioneering efforts to combat pollution in a hard-to-abate segment. The Aurora Class embodies the change our industry needs."

HÖEGH AURORA has a capacity of up to 9,100 cars. With her strengthened decks and enhanced internal ramp systems, she can carry electric vehicles on all 14 decks.

Her 1,500 square metres of solar panels on the top deck reduce electricity production from the generators by up to 30-35 percent. Also, she primed to embrace electric shore power for emissions-free port operations.

Sebjørn Dahl, COO of Höegh Autoliners, says:

"We have progressed from the initial idea to having the finished vessel in commercial operation in under four years—a record speed that attests to the exceptional effort from our employees and partners. Together, we will not rest until we achieve net zero operations."

The HÖEGH AURORA and the rest of the Aurora Class is the result of a partnership with China Merchants Heavy Industries, Kongsberg Maritime, DNV, Deltamarin, MAN Energy Systems, MacGregor, TGE Marine, Bank of Communications, HD Huyndai, Glamox – and many more.

Board Chair of Höegh Autoliners, Leif Hoegh, says:

"Together with our partners, we are making sustainable shipping doable, accelerating the green transition within our industry. Höegh Autoliners have always innovated, explored new ways and changed the future for the better. But the Aurora Class is probably our most impactful innovation yet."

The Höegh Aurora will be registered and sail under the Norwegian flag, and on Thursday 8 Aug, she will commence commercial operations and begin her maiden voyage to Japan.