Höegh Autoliners Names Höegh Moonlight at the Port of Gothenburg

(Höegh Autoliners) Höegh Autoliners today celebrated the naming of its sixth Aurora-Class vessel in commercial operation at Sweden’s leading and largest port in the Nordic region. The vessel was sponsored by Mrs Jenny Westermark, Senior Vice President, GTO Production Logistics at Volvo Group, who performed the traditional bottle-breaking. An array of sustainable Volvo Group cargo provided a spectacular showpiece for the proceedings

With a capacity of 9,100 car equivalent units (CEU), the Höegh Moonlight joins Höegh Autoliners’ flagship series of 12 next-generation pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). The fifth sister vessel, the Höegh Sunrise, was named at Omaezaki Port in Japan in June this year.

Built for a low-carbon future, the Aurora Class is the most technically advanced and environmentally friendly series of car carriers ever constructed. All 12 vessels are designed from the keel up to transition to clean fuels, with the first eight powered by LNG via dual-fuel engines. The vessels are estimated to deliver 58% lower emissions per transported car compared to the industry average. The first 8 vessels are dual-fuel “ammonia-ready” with reinforced decks and an integrated tank developed by TGE Marine at the heart of the design, allowing for straightforward conversion to be able to run on clean ammonia in the future. The final four vessels in this Aurora newbuilding program, scheduled for delivery from 2027, are dual-fuel vessels able to operate on ammonia from day one.

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, commented: “The naming of Höegh Moonlight demonstrates our strong commitment to decarbonising deep-sea shipping – not in the future, but right now, today. These vessels are not concepts; they are working, sailing answers to one of the most urgent challenges in our industry. I would like to thank Jenny Westermark for graciously sponsoring the vessel.”

“The partnership between Höegh Autoliners and Volvo Group is not just a business alliance. It’s a shared commitment — a joint force — to drive real, lasting change in our industries”, says Jenny Westermark, SVP Production Logistics at Volvo Group.

Höegh Autoliners COO Sebjørn Dahl added: “The Höegh Moonlight reflects the transformation we are leading across the maritime sector. From the speed of delivery to the scale of innovation onboard, these vessels demonstrate what can be achieved when ambition meets action. We are grateful to our partners, crew and global team for making this possible – together, we're building more than vessels, we're helping to shape a cleaner, smarter future for global trade.”

Höegh Autoliners CSO Oskar Orstadius also commented: “The naming of Höegh Moonlight in the Port of Gothenburg marks more than the arrival of a vessel; it is a celebration of our close collaboration with key customers and our shared commitment to sustainable, high-quality transport solutions. We are proud to strengthen these partnerships, in a port that plays an important role in our global network, and we would also like to express our sincere appreciation to our agent in Sweden, Scandinavian Shipping and Logistics, who has represented Höegh Autoliners with dedication for more than 20 years.”

The Aurora Class plays a central role in Höegh Autoliners’ ambition to reach zero emissions by 2040. All are classed by DNV and fly the Norwegian flag.

Port of Gothenburg's green strategy By 2030, the Port of Gothenburg aims to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent, at sea, in the terminal areas, and on land. The transition is being carried out in close collaboration with industry, policymakers, and academia, with a strong focus on creating sustainable value chains for a thriving society and strengthening business access to global markets.

Key components of this effort include investments in shoreside power, green shipping corridors, electrification, and the fuels of the future, all driven by close cooperation with stakeholders across the entire transport chain.

“Höegh’s traffic at the Port of Gothenburg play a vital role in enabling Swedish industry to access global markets. With the introduction of these new vessels, that connection can now be made in an even more efficient and climate-smart way than before. The Port of Gothenburg is committed to becoming a leading bunkering hub for alternative fuels in Northern Europe, and Höegh stands as a strong example of a frontrunner showing that our initiatives as a port are moves in the right direction,” said Göran Eriksson, CEO at the Port of Gothenburg.

Höegh Autoliners is a global provider of ocean transportation solutions, committed to reducing its carbon footprint and offering sustainable shipping services. With a focus on high-quality ocean transportation and innovative solutions, Höegh Autoliners supports the decarbonisation of its customers' supply chains. Höegh Autoliners operates some of the world's greenest PCTCs, equipped with fuel-saving technologies. Additionally, the company has 12 firm orders for dual-fuel ammonia-ready Aurora Class vessels (six already in commercial operation) with the last 4 vessels in the series able to run directly from yard on Ammonia from 2027, positioning the company at the forefront of sustainable deep-sea shipping. With a capacity of up to 9,100 cars, the Aurora Class vessels will be the world's largest and sustainable car carriers ever built.

The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in Scandinavia, handling around 20% of Swedish trade and more than half of all container traffic. As a full-service port it connects business to key markets around the world, 24/7, every day of the year. The port is committed to safe, efficient, and sustainable shipping with the most comprehensive shipping line network in the Scandinavia. With over 30 daily, climate-neutral rail shuttles, it also offers direct, reliable land connections for freight transport across Sweden and Norway. Handling energy products, vehicles, ro-ro units, containerized cargo, the port plays an important role in supporting streamlined shipping operations and long-term growth in global trade. READ MORE