Höegh Autoliners ASA, the Oslo-listed Norwegian operator and one of the world's leading deep-sea transportation companies for cars and rolling equipment, has decided to order six additional new dual-fuel LNG and zero-carbon-ready Aurora class vessels for delivery in 2029–2031, the company announced.

The decision extends Höegh Autoliners' Aurora class newbuilding programme to a total of eighteen vessels, all of which will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (CMHI). The company said it has received highly attractive terms reflecting its strong relationship with the yard, scale benefits and the favourable economics of building repeat vessels.

Beyond the firm order, Höegh Autoliners has secured an option to build four additional vessels on the same terms, together with slot reservations for another four vessels at the same yard. The option vessels may be exercised within six months, while the four slot reservations are held for the company, with notice to be given on or before 31 December 2027. Both decision windows fall well before the 2029–2031 deliveries, meaning the programme's final size will be settled years ahead of the first of the new vessels entering service.

According to the company, the decision allows Höegh Autoliners to accelerate its green fleet renewal programme, with flexibility to extend the programme to a total of up to twenty-six Aurora vessels, including the twelve vessels already delivered or on order.

The Aurora vessels will carry classification society DNV's ammonia- and methanol-ready notation, with the main engine provided by Everllence (formerly MAN Energy Solutions) and the bridge system supplied by Norwegian technology group Kongsberg Maritime. With the capacity to carry up to 9,100 cars, the Aurora class reduces carbon emissions by up to 58% compared to conventional PCTCs (pure car and truck carriers). The fuel-flexible design points to a regulatory landscape that is tightening around shipping emissions: the International Maritime Organization's revised greenhouse gas strategy targets net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, and the European Union extended its Emissions Trading System to cover maritime CO2 emissions from 2024. The company said the further expansion of its newbuild programme provides an opportunity to fully anchor its green leadership position, and the newbuilds retain future ammonia-conversion flexibility.

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."

Source: Höegh Autoliners announcement, as published by Hellenic Shipping News on 27/08/2026.