Norwegian shipping firm Hoegh Autoliners has placed an order for six additional LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).

The vessels are part of the company’s Aurora class and are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2031. They will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), the company said in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

The new order will expand Hoegh Autoliners’ Aurora newbuild programme to 18 vessels. The company has also secured options for four additional vessels and slot reservations for another four, extending a fleet renewal programme that is increasingly shaped by emissions rules and cargo owners’ expectations for lower-carbon shipping.

“With capacity to carry up to 9,100 cars, the Aurora class reduces carbon emissions by up to 58% compared with conventional PCTCs,” Hoegh Autoliners said.

The vessels will feature DNV’s ammonia- and methanol-ready notation, meaning they can be converted to ammonia or methanol propulsion in the future.

LNG is a more established and widely available alternative fuel, although methane slip remains a concern. Bio-LNG is emerging as a lower-carbon option that can be used in existing LNG-fuelled ships, giving operators a near-term fuel choice while keeping longer-term retrofit flexibility in view.

Ship & Bunker News Team

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