Last week, the first DNV-approved LNG/ammonia tank was lifted onboard and installed on Höegh Autoliners’ first Aurora-class newbuild PCTC vessel.
The work was carried out under the supervision of TGE Marine engineers and shipyard specialists. Reports from the shipyard in China indicate that everything proceeded smoothly and according to plan, said Höegh Autoliners.
The 3,400 cu m stainless steel tank measured 40.5 m x 13.4 m x 8 m. The company said that “the installation of the ships’ most expensive single component represents another concrete step on our path to decarbonisation of our customers’ supply chains and will accelerate a push towards net-zero shipping”.
The first two Aurora-class ships are scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2024 and will be the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia and methanol-ready notations.
Höegh Autoliners recently partnered with Yara Clean Ammonia, the world’s largest ammonia distributor, for a future supply deal for clean ammonia. The company has committed to powering at least 5 percent of its deepsea operations with green ammonia by 2030.
The total number of vessels under the Aurora newbuilding programme sits at 12, all of which will be built at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu). HLPFI readers will recall, Höegh Autoliners exercised its first option for an additional four vessels during April 2022, with the initial letter of intent for the series signed in 2021. The company also retains an option to build further vessels (vessels 13-16), as well as slot reservations for another four (vessels 17-20).
