Ro-ro carrier Höegh Autoliners has exercised its option to construct an additional four multi-fuel Aurora-class vessels.
The contract will bring the total number of vessels under the Aurora newbuilding programme to 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 first of the 12 vessels is scheduled for delivery in July 2024. The company also retains an option to build a further vessels (vessels 13-16), as well as slot reservations for another four (vessels 17-20).
Höegh Autoliners said it will have the option to convert one or more of these vessels to ammonia propulsion as soon as the technology is available.
