Höegh Autoliners and China Merchants sign landmark Aurora Class contract

Höegh Autoliners and China Merchants Group (CMG) have formally signed the Contract to build six additional Aurora Class vessels. The signing expands one of shipping’s most ambitious fleet renewal programmes and strengthens Höegh Autoliners’ drive towards zero-emission deep-sea shipping.

The contract was signed during a high-level meeting in Naples attended by senior representatives from both companies, including Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group; Chair of Höegh Autoliners, Leif O. Høegh; and Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.

The six additional dual-fuel LNG and zero-carbon-ready vessels will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co. (CMHI) and delivered between 2029 and 2031. With 18 Aurora Class vessels in the programme, Höegh Autoliners is building the fleet needed for a zero- emission future and setting the pace for the transformation of deep-sea shipping.

The Aurora Class vessels can carry up to 9,100 cars and reduce carbon emissions per transported car by up to 58 per cent compared with conventional PCTCs. They have DNV’s ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations and are designed to be converted to run on future zero-carbon fuels.

Leif O. Høegh, Chair of the Board of Directors of Höegh Autoliners, said: “For nearly 100 years, we have developed, adapted and led the way through major changes in shipping. It is in our DNA to keep moving and challenge what is possible. This signing continues that story. We are investing in the vessels that will define our fleet for decades and help move our industry towards zero emissions.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said: “This is not just another vessel-building agreement. It is a statement about the future of deep-sea shipping and the role we intend to play in shaping it. The Aurora Class is at the heart of our fleet renewal and our path to a sustainable future. By expanding the programme to 18 vessels, we are securing efficient, flexible and future-ready capacity while setting the pace towards zero-emission operations.”

Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group, said: “Höegh Autoliners is a pioneer in international shipping and will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. We would like to offer our congratulations in advance! Over the past century, Höegh Autoliners has achieved remarkable development and has grown into a leading company in the global RoRo shipping sector. We truly admire what you have accomplished.”

“China Merchants Group is also a pioneer in international shipping and in China's national shipping industry. Over the 154 years since its founding, it has grown into an innovation-driven, internationally oriented conglomerate with leading competitiveness in port, shipping and logistics as well as shipbuilding. In particular, our subsidiary China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry has world-class PCTC manufacturing capabilities and product quality, ranking No. 1 globally in market share. The cooperation between our two sides is a strong alliance between two century-old enterprises.”