On October 18, China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen shipyard (CMHI Haimen shipyard), a Chinese shipbuilder, delivered the second 9,100 CEU dual-fuel PCTC (pure car and track carrier) “Hoegh Borealis” built for Hoegh Autolines. It is the largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier in the world.
“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.
It is understood that the Aurora Class PCTC is designed by Deltamarin with an overall length of 199.9 meters, a beam of 37.6 meters and a design draft of 9.35 meters. It has 14 decks with a carrying capacity of 9,100 vehicles and is equipped with a low-speed dual-fuel main engine and three dual-fuel generators. It can use LNG and conventional fuels, and also has DNV “ammonia ready” and “methanol ready” notations, which makes it the first ship in the field of car carriers that can use carbon-neutral fuel.
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.