Höegh Autoliners ASA has ordered six additional dual-fuel LNG, zero-carbon-ready Aurora class vessels for delivery between 2029 and 2031.
The order takes its Aurora newbuilding programme to 18 vessels in total, all built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (CMHI).
The order builds on the company’s existing relationship with the yard, with Höegh Autoliners citing scale benefits and favourable economics from ordering repeat vessels.
The company has also secured an option for four further vessels on the same terms, exercisable within six months, plus slot reservations for another four, with notice due by the end of 2027, giving it flexibility to scale the Aurora programme up to 26 vessels overall.
The Aurora class carries DNV’s ammonia and methanol-ready notation, with main engines from Everllence and bridge systems from Kongsberg Maritime.
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Each vessel can carry up to 9,100 cars and cuts carbon emissions by as much as 58 per cent versus conventional PCTCs, while retaining the option for future ammonia conversion.
Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said: “The Aurora class newbuilds have demonstrated very strong earnings potential, carbon performance, cargo flexibility and future-proof conversion capability. Through our newbuild programme, we secure capacity costs at a competitive level, supporting profitable operations even during potential periods of lower freight rates.
“Further expanding our fleet strengthens our ability to capture growth in the Asian market and meet evolving customer demand, while giving us greater strategic flexibility, supporting long-term fleet renewal and positioning us to capture commercial opportunities in the years ahead.”
For more information:
Höegh Autoliners – https://www.hoeghautoliners.com/
