Hoegh Autoliners is expanding its fleet of dual-fuel car carriers with an order for six more Aurora-class pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).
The Norwegian shipping company said Tuesday that the vessels will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), with deliveries planned between 2029 and 2031.
The latest order takes the company’s Aurora newbuilding programme to 18 vessels, while Hoegh Autoliners also holds options for four more ships and has reserved construction slots for another four.
The LNG dual-fuel vessels will be capable of carrying up to 9,100 cars and are designed to cut carbon emissions by as much as 58% compared with conventional PCTCs, according to the company.
The Aurora class will also carry DNV’s ammonia- and methanol-ready notation, allowing the vessels to be converted to either alternative fuel in the future.
The latest expansion comes as Hoegh Autoliners continues to build out a large, fuel-flexible car carrier fleet aimed at reducing emissions while maintaining the capacity needed to serve growing vehicle trade.
