Höegh Autoliners has taken delivery of the Höegh Starlight, the seventh ammonia-ready Aurora-class car carrier in its 12-vessel programme, according to a company statement in social media.
The vessel, built at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) in China, joins the Norwegian-flagged fleet under DNV class. It is the seventh 9,100-CEU dual-fuel LNG ship delivered in the past 18 months, with the Aurora class designed as a multi-fuel, zero-carbon-ready PCTC capable of conversion to green ammonia once the fuel and engine technology become fully available.
The Höegh Starlight matches the specification of its six sister ships, with capacity for up to 9,100 car-equivalent units on 14 decks, strengthened decks and internal ramps for electric vehicles, and flexibility for heavy project cargo.
The design incorporates about 1,500 m² of solar panels and full shore-power capability to reduce port emissions. Orderbook data lists the vessel at just under 200 metres in length and 37.6 metres in beam, equipped with an ammonia-ready MAN B&W main engine supported by battery and solar systems.
Höegh Autoliners has 12 Aurora vessels scheduled for delivery through the second half of 2027. The first eight are fitted with dual-fuel LNG engines convertible to ammonia, while the final four are planned as ammonia-powered from delivery.
The Aurora design can reduce carbon emissions per car carried by up to 58% compared with conventional PCTCs. The series forms part of a roughly USD 1.2 billion newbuilding programme supporting the company’s target of net-zero emissions from vessel operations by 2040.
Höegh Autoliners is a Norwegian shipping company headquartered in Oslo. It operates a global deep-sea roll-on/roll-off network using a fleet of pure car and truck carriers and provides transport for automobiles, heavy machinery, and project cargo.
China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) is a Chinese shipbuilding subsidiary of China Merchants Group that constructs commercial vessels, including large-scale car carriers and specialised ships.
