Höegh Autoliners says it is making significant progress in its ambition to make the Aurora Class the world’s first PCTC vessel to run on ammonia, having been granted almost US$ 14m in Enova funding to use the alternative and sustainable fuel for two vessels.
Enova Director of Technology and Market Development Astrid Lilliestråle said: “We note that the shipping company aims to be at the forefront of adopting ammonia in ships and has ambitions to take measures to adapt to necessary changes and future requirements towards the low-emission society”
Höegh Autoliners has a total of 12 Aurora Class vessels on order. The vessels will transport rolling cargo such as cars, agricultural machinery, and mining equipment, as well as general solo cargo needing to be shipped. All 12 vessels are designed with engines that run on LNG and LSFO, and with an ammonia-ready certification from DNV. To use ammonia as fuel, the installation of an ammonia engine and an additional tank to maintain sufficient range are required. Therefore, Höegh Autoliners has applied for Enova funding for two of their 12 confirmed vessels to reduce the additional cost of this solution compared to a vessel that would be ‘ammonia ready’.
The company aims to use mostly carbon-neutral ammonia as fuel from the moment the vessels enter into service. It is expected that it could take some time before availability and price reach satisfactory levels, with a gradual ramp-up expected from 2027. These vessels will significantly contribute to the company’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. Höegh Autoliners is one of the first shipping companies to have secured access to the first ammonia two-stroke engines delivered by MAN.
Each of Höegh Autoliners’ two planned ammonia vessels has been granted almost US$ 7m , with the total coming to almost US$ 14m
With the order of 12 zero-emission-ready Aurora Class vessels and the potential for conversion to run on ammonia, the company positions itself at the forefront of zero-emission international shipping. With a capacity of up to 9,100 cars, the Aurora Class vessels will be the largest and most environmentally friendly car carriers ever built.
Höegh Autoliners CEO Andreas Enger said: “At Höegh Autoliners, we take leadership by actively collaborating with a wide range of highly qualified and dedicated suppliers to make clean ammonia viable as a zero-emission shipping fuel. We believe it is important for shipping companies to send a clear signal to the rest of the value chain that the technology can be realized in a short time and that there will be demand for carbon-neutral fuel. Almost all Höegh Autoliners vessels sail under the Norwegian flag and have significant Norwegian content from the Norwegian cluster. The support from Enova, together with our innovative multi-fuel vessel design, significantly helps de-risking the choice of bringing the first zero-carbon vessels to our industry. The race towards decarbonising the industry will take decades, not years. Nevertheless, no progress will be made without pioneering companies taking decisive steps to shape the future.”
Image: Aurora class PCTC (source: Hoegh Autoliners)
