Gothenburg, 2 September 2025 – Höegh Autoliners held the naming ceremony for its new Aurora Class vessel, Höegh Moonlight, at the Port of Gothenburg – the largest port in Scandinavia. At the ceremony, Jenny Westermark, Senior Vice President Production Logistics at Volvo Group, acted as sponsor and performed the traditional bottle breaking.
The evening before the ceremony, Höegh Autoliners hosted a memorable dinner with excellent food and drinks. Guests were entertained by two iconic artists – Ina Wroldsen from Norway and Carola Häggkvist from Sweden – symbolising the strong ties between the two countries.
Aurora Class – capacity and environmental impact
- Capacity: 9,100 car equivalent units (CEU), part of a series of 12 next-generation vessels.
- Environmental profile: The first eight vessels are powered by LNG dual-fuel engines and are ammonia-ready for future operations. This results in approximately 58% lower emissions per transported car compared to the industry average.
- From 2027, an additional four vessels will be delivered, fully equipped to run on clean ammonia from day one.
Voices from the ceremony
Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners:
“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.”
Jenny Westermark, SVP Production Logistics at Volvo Group:
“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.”
Port of Gothenburg – sustainability strategy
The Port of Gothenburg has set a target to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. Key initiatives include shore power, green shipping corridors, electrification, and the fuels of the future. During the ceremony, CEO Göran Eriksson highlighted that Höegh’s new vessels will enable Swedish industry to access global markets in an even more efficient and climate-smart way.
SSL Liner Agency – Höegh’s partner in Sweden and Finland
In Sweden, Höegh Autoliners is represented by SSL Liner Agency, part of Scandinavian Shipping & Logistics in Gothenburg. The agency is led by Eva Mattsson and has represented Höegh for more than 20 years.
In Finland, Petri Kalkkinen is responsible for SSL Liner Agency, where the partnership with Höegh has been established for over 10 years, further strengthening the company’s presence in the region.
About Höegh Autoliners
Höegh Autoliners is a global provider of ocean transportation solutions, with a strong focus on reducing its carbon footprint and offering sustainable shipping services. With high-quality ocean transportation and innovative solutions, the company supports the decarbonisation of its customers’ supply chains. Höegh Autoliners operates some of the world’s greenest PCTC vessels, equipped with fuel-saving technologies.
The company has 12 firm orders for Aurora Class vessels with dual-fuel engines that are ammonia-ready. Six of these vessels are already in commercial operation, and the last four, to be delivered from 2027, will be able to run on clean ammonia from day one. With a capacity of up to 9,100 cars, the Aurora Class will be the largest and most sustainable car carriers ever built.
