Norway-based shipping company Höegh Autoliners has named the second of its twelve new multi-fuel Aurora-class vessels, Höegh Borealis, at China Merchants Heavy Industry’s yard in Jiangsu, China.
The naming ceremony for the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) took place today (September 11, 2024) in the presence of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Höegh Borealis, like its sister vessel Höegh Aurora, has a capacity of up to 9,100 cars and can carry electric vehicles on all 14 decks.
All of the Auroras will feature 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.
Being the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations, the Auroras will also be the first to be ready to operate zero-carbon ammonia propulsion with the main engine delivered by German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) and the bridge system supplied by Norwegian Kongsberg Maritime.
The shipowner expects that the PCTCs will be able to cut carbon emissions per car transported by 58% from the current industry standard. The firm sees the Auroras as a “monumental leap towards the 2040 net-zero emissions goal”.
To remind, Höegh Autoliners currently has twelve Aurora-class vessels on order, with the possibility to order another four. All the ships will sail under the Norwegian flag and will be classed by classification society DNV.
The first ship in this class was delivered in August 2024, and after the delivery, the PCTC started commercial operations.