Höegh Autoliners now offers customers the possibility of transporting cargo out of Europe while running on 100% advanced biofuels meeting the highest sustainability standards.
This is seen as an important step in Höegh Autoliners’ sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint and another concrete step on its path to zero carbon. BMW Group has decided to make use of the offer, prompting an important carbon footprint reduction. Höegh Autoliners vessels are now regularly running on sustainable biofuels, offering customers the possibility of choosing that option when shipping cargo. The company says it is constantly working together with partners to improve its decarbonisation efforts and provide more environmentally friendly transportation solutions.
Andreas Enger, CEO Höegh Autoliners, said: “This marks an important step in our long-term commitment to be the leader in carbon neutral deep sea shipping and in our ambitious strategy to reduce our environmental footprint and combat climate change. We are happy to be able to provide our customers with greener deep sea transportation solutions now as a steppingstone on our path to zero. In close collaboration with our partners, we are constantly working on new ways of assisting customers in decarbonising their supply chain.”
The contract between BMW and Höegh Autoliners results in emission reductions of 4.466 MT CO2 equivalents.
Michael Nikolaides, SVP Production Network and Supply Chain Management, BMW Group, said: “According to the BMW Group’s Green Transport Logistics Strategy, we are systematically working on emission-reducing logistics concepts and pilot projects. By 2030 we want to reduce the CO2 footprint per vehicle by at least 40% over the entire life cycle, compared to base year 2019. Thus, pursuing a technology-open approach and close cooperation with our logistics service providers are crucial here.”
In March 2021, Höegh Autoliners completed its first carbon neutral voyage from Europe to South Africa, when the Horizon class vessel Höegh Trigger ran on advanced biofuels. The biofuel is derived from sustainable waste oil, for example from food manufacturing and industrial applications. The waste oils are collected and go through the biofuel production to generate a sustainable, second-generation marine biofuel. It is virtually free of sulphur oxides and reduces the vessel’s net carbon emissions by 100% from tank to air.
Egger said: “At Höegh Autoliners we never compromise with safety, which is why we have tested the biofuel solution thoroughly. I am happy to be able to provide this green solution for our customers.”
Oskar Orstadius, Chief Sales Officer Höegh Autoliners, said: “Sustainable transportation is at the heart of Höegh Autoliners’ vision for the future, and we continue to accelerate our decarbonisation efforts to meet our net zero emissions target by 2040. We have immediate decarbonisation options available to customers in addition to a series of Ammonia-ready Aurora class vessels on order to take a clear leadership position in decarbonisation of deep sea automotive transport. With this step we once again show that we do not just talk about being greener. We continue to act on it in our quest to make the maritime industry green.”
Höegh Autoliners operates some of the greenest and largest PCTC vessels. The Horizon class vessels can transport up to 8,500 cars and are designed to minimise impact on the environment. The vessels are equipped with the latest fuel-saving technologies, reducing CO2 emissions per car equivalent unit by 40% compared with standard car carriers.
In addition to this, Höegh Autoliners has firm orders for the delivery of a series of eight new Aurora class vessels, which will have DNVs “ammonia ready” and “methanol ready” notations, making the vessels the first in the segment to be ready to operate on zero carbon ammonia.
