Höegh Autoliners has placed an order for six more Aurora class vessels, which are designed to operate on dual-fuel LNG and are described as 'zero-carbon-ready.' These new car carriers will be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) and are expected to be delivered between 2029 and 2031. This latest order expands Höegh Autoliners' Aurora newbuild program with CMHI to a total of 18 vessels.
The company has also secured an option to order four additional vessels under the same terms, with a six-month window to exercise this option. Furthermore, Höegh Autoliners has reserved slots for another four vessels at the same shipyard, indicating a long-term strategy for fleet modernization and expansion.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this significant investment in new Ro-Ro capacity suggests a future increase in available slots for vehicle and project cargo transport. The dual-fuel LNG capability and 'zero-carbon-ready' design align with growing industry demands for sustainable shipping, which could influence carrier selection and potentially lead to differentiated pricing for greener transport options. While the delivery timeline is several years out, this move signals Höegh Autoliners' commitment to maintaining a modern, environmentally compliant fleet, which may stabilize or improve schedule reliability on key automotive trade lanes in the long term.
