Norway-based Hoegh Autoliners has expanded its newbuild programme with a contract for six additional LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), according to Ship & Bunker.
The shipbuilding contract was signed with China Merchants Group in Naples this week, Ship & Bunker reports, citing a LinkedIn post from Hoegh Autoliners published the previous day. The vessels will be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2031.
Vessel Specifications and Emissions Targets
According to Ship & Bunker, each of the new dual-fuel LNG vessels will have capacity for up to 9,100 cars. Hoegh Autoliners stated that the ships could cut carbon emissions per transported car by as much as 58% when compared with conventional PCTCs.
The report notes that these newbuilds form part of the company’s Aurora Class programme and will carry DNV ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations. This classification means the vessels are designed to allow future conversion to ammonia or methanol propulsion systems, offering flexibility as alternative marine fuels develop.
Programme Could Grow to 26 Vessels
Ship & Bunker reports that the Aurora Class programme has the potential to expand to 26 vessels in total. This includes an option for four further ships, plus construction slots that have been reserved for an additional four vessels beyond the current order.
Hoegh Autoliners currently operates a fleet of approximately 40 pure car and truck carriers, according to the report.
Does This Matter to You?
This order reflects a broader trend in the PCTC segment toward dual-fuel newbuilds with future-fuel flexibility, a development relevant to fleet owners, charterers, and bunker suppliers tracking demand shifts in the car carrier trade. The ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations described by Ship & Bunker signal that operators in this segment are positioning for eventual fuel transitions without committing immediately to those fuels.
For bunker suppliers and traders, the continued uptake of LNG dual-fuel tonnage in the PCTC sector may factor into longer-term demand planning for LNG bunkering infrastructure, particularly as delivery of these vessels begins from 2029. The source material does not specify which ports or trade routes these vessels will serve, so route-specific bunkering implications are not yet clear.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
