Höegh takes option on four more ammonia-ready PCTCs

Höegh previously ordered eight Aurora-class vessels at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) shipyard. These options bring the total number of newbuildings on order to 12 vessels. The company has further options to add another up to eight more vessels in batches of four apiece. 

Höegh Autoliners also has the option to convert one or more of these vessels to ammonia propulsion as soon as the technology is available.  

The Aurora-class ships were designed by Deltamarin and will be constructed by China Merchants’ shipyard in Haimen, Jiangsu province.  

With a  9,100-car equivalent unit capacity, the series will become the biggest set of PCTC vessels ever built and the first in the segment to receive DNV’s ammonia and methanol-ready notations with the main engine provided by MAN and the bridge system supplied by Kongsberg Maritime.

The first of the 12 vessels is scheduled to be delivered July 2024.