The vessel was sponsored by Mrs Jenny Westermark, Senior Vice President, GTO Production Logistics at Volvo Group, who performed the traditional bottle-breaking.
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.”
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.
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.
