On September 11th, Höegh Autoliners’ second Aurora class vessel, Höegh Borealis, was delivered in a grand naming ceremony at China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen shipyard (CMHI Haimen shipyard). The naming ceremony was attended by the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and the vessel is expected to start its maiden voyage in a few days.
“Höegh Borealis” is the second of 12 9,100 CEU dual-fuel and zero-carbon ready Aurora Class PCTCs ordered by Höegh Autoliners from CMHI Haimen shipyard. The first PCTC, Höegh Aurora, was delivered in August 2024 and has already commenced commercial operations and made its maiden voyage to Japan, with the remaining 10 vessels to be delivered by the first half of 2027.
In addition, the parties have four vessels of the same type yet to be effected, with deliveries scheduled for 2026 and 2027, if the owner exercises its option.
Höegh Borealis will be cutting carbon emissions per car transported by up to 58 percent from the current industry average. From 2027, the first Aurora class vessel will be powered by green ammonia, eliminating nearly all carbon emissions. The Aurora Class is a monumental leap towards Höegh Autoliners’ 2040 net-zero emissions goal.
The vessels – the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly PCTCs – are the crown jewel of Höegh Autoliners’ transformational new build program improving what is already the world’s most sustainable PCTC fleet sailing the oceans today.
“With the Aurora Class we are sailing for sustainability, pioneering efforts to combat pollution in a hard-to abate segment. We are setting new standards for sustainable deep-sea transportation, making a significant stride toward our 2040 net zero emissions goal. As the largest and most environmentally friendly PCTCs ever built, the Aurora Class vessels are the change our industry needs,” says Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.