Höegh Autoliners has placed a landmark order for ammonia-fuelled engines, marking a major step in maritime decarbonisation. The company confirmed that four Everllence B&W ME-LGIA dual-fuel engines will power its final four Aurora-class Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs).
The 7S60ME-LGIA engines, capable of running on ammonia, will be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. The new vessels will each have capacity for 9,100 car equivalent units (CEU), making them the largest and most environmentally advanced PCTCs on the market.
Sebjørn Dahl, Chief Operations Officer at Höegh Autoliners, said the order highlights the company’s role as a frontrunner in zero-emission shipping.
“The engines are the beating heart of our vessels,” Dahl said. “We are proud to be among the first to install ammonia engines on our Aurora-class ships. This collaboration shows our shared ambition with Everllence to reach zero emissions.”
Everllence sees the deal as a breakthrough for ammonia propulsion. Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business at Everllence, said the company has taken a “safety-first” approach to developing the engine, given ammonia’s risk profile. He expects ammonia to become one of three key alternative fuels alongside methanol and methane.
Testing of Everllence’s ammonia engine has been ongoing since 2023. The company says the technology is ready for early demonstration projects at sea by 2026.
Höegh’s Aurora Class vessels are the first in the PCTC sector to receive both ammonia- and methanol-ready notations from DNV. With the new engines, they will also be the first designed to run on zero-carbon ammonia, pushing the boundaries of sustainable deep-sea transport.
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