Höegh Autoliners doubles biofuel use in 2023

Norway-based shipping company Höegh Autoliners has doubled its biofuel usage from 2022 to 2023 in response to growing demand for green transportation.

“We have taken relentless action to solidify our position as the preferred green PCTC carrier for our customers. More than 80% of our fleet received a CII rating of C and above – being one of the best vessel performances in the whole PCTC sector,” Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said announcing the 2023 annual report.

“We continued to offer low-carbon transport solutions using biofuels, with a remarkable 100% increase in biofuel volumes purchased and consumed during 2023 compared to 2022, indicating a clear increase in customers’ interest for green transportation.”

Last year, the company took a record-high delivery of around 10,380 MT of ISCC certified sustainable biofuel (B100), more than doubling its 2022 volumes. As Höegh Autoliners is expecting a continuous interest in biofuel going forward, it has partnered with a Swiss provider of biofuels, VARO, for the supply of advanced biofuels for deep-sea transportation from Europe which is expected to continue during 2024.

After completing its first carbon-neutral voyage from Europe to South Africa in 2021, Höegh Autoliners’ vessels are now regularly powered by advanced biofuels, meeting the highest industry standards for sustainability, the company said.

Höegh Autoliners is amid its Aurora Class newbuilding program which was launched in 2021. The program is progressing at full speed with the option for vessels nine to twelve declared, including an option for installing ammonia engines on these vessels. The company has secured committed financing for all of the ordered Aurora-class vessels on attractive terms.

The Aurora program serves as a key factor in realizing the ambition to be a net zero emissions operator by 2040, according to Höegh Autoliners.

The decarbonization journey towards the 2030 and 2040 targets are highly dependent on the availability and the cost of alternative fuels.

“As we consider to launch our first ammonia-capable vessel in 2027, we are doing what we can to ensure availability of clean ammonia. During the year, we have partnered with several ammonia suppliers for the supply and delivery of clean ammonia for our Aurora vessels,” the company explained.

“Until ammonia becomes available, we will continue to offer biofuel to our customers on a regular basis. We acknowledge that biofuel is unlikely to become the long-term solution for decarbonising shipping, however we view it as an important transition fuel until the technology and infrastructure makes alternative fuels available,” Höegh Autoliners pointed out.