Höegh Autoliners: One-third of multi-fuel Aurora-class fleet is now complete

Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners has completed one-third of its multi-fuel Aurora-class pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) fleet with the addition of the fourth unit, Höegh Sunlight.

The company revealed the delivery of the latest newbuild via social media on January 10, 2025, when the vessel departed China Merchants Heavy Industry’s (CMHI) shipyard for bunkering before proceeding to Taicang terminal for cargo operations and naming ceremony.

Taking after its sister vessels, Höegh Sunlight is 200 meters long with a carrying capacity of 9,100 vehicles.

Sebjørn Dahl, Chief Operations Officer at Höegh Autoliners, said: “We have now successfully delivered one-third of our vessels at record speed. The learning curve with the first vessel was steep, and we have continuously increased our efficiency with each project, breaking new records on delivery and speed.”

Höegh Autoliners’ twelve-unit Aurora-class fleet, dubbed as “world’s largest and most environmentally friendly” PCTCs, will be equipped with multi-fuel engines that can run on marine gas oil (MGO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). With modifications, the vessels can transition to using future zero-carbon fuels.

The ships are also said to be the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations.

As part of Höegh Autoliners’ ambition to be a net-zero emissions operator by 2040, the PCTCs are expected to be able to cut carbon emissions per car transported by 58% from the current industry standard. 

All vessels will sail under the Norwegian flag and be classed by DNV.

To remind, the first two Aurora-class vessels, Höegh Aurora and Höegh Borealis, were delivered in August and October last year. The third unit, Höegh Australis, was also recently delivered and is set for an official naming ceremony later this month.

The shipowner anticipates that all Auroras will be delivered and in operation by the first half of 2027.