Pioneers in the maritime industry since 1927

Höegh Autoliners is a leading global provider of ocean transportation services within the Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) segment. We operate a global network of deep sea trades with Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels. We offer our customers safe and secure deep sea transportation of RoRo cargo such as cars, high and heavy machinery and breakbulk. Each year, we transport around 1.6 million car equivalent units (ceu) as well as other rolling and static cargo.

Founded in 1927

How it started

Höegh Autoliners has a rich ship ownership history dating back to 1927 when Leif Høegh founded Leif Höegh & Co. Since then, the company has been a well-recognized name in the international shipping industry.

Initially, the company focused on owning and operating oil tankers, which became its mainstay from the early days. However, in the 1960s, the company diversified into new activities and introduced new concepts for transportation.

The company started transporting cars with lift-on/lift-off vessels, having previously operated combined oil/bulk/ore carriers (OBO). In 1970, Höegh-Ugland Auto Liners (HUAL) was formed as a joint venture with Ugland, which became the basis for developing Höegh into a world-leading RoRo operator.

In December 1987, Leif Höegh & Co ASA was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange after merging various shipowning entities. This consolidation process laid the foundation for a new development towards a decentralized business model.

Innovating through times

Shipping through cycles

In 1995, Höegh Fleet Services AS was established as a separate ship management entity serving Leif Höegh & Co's fleet. In March 2000, Leif Höegh & Co acquired the remaining 50% of HUAL, and five years later, it was renamed Höegh Autoliners.

In 2003, the third generation of Höegh family members, Leif O. Høegh and Morten W. Høegh, took control of the company. They made an offer to acquire all outstanding shares in Leif Höegh & Co AS, which was privatized and delisted. In 2006, the company was restructured into two separate entities: Höegh Autoliners and Höegh LNG, with a common holding company, Leif Höegh & Co Limited. Höegh Fleet Services continued to maintain the ship management expertise.

In 2008, Höegh Autoliners relocated its shipowning activities from Bermuda to Norway. The same year, the company acquired a fleet of 12 car carriers from A.P. Moller-Maersk (APMM), and APMM became a minority shareholder, holding 37.5% of the shares in Höegh Autoliners. A year later, APMM exercised its option to purchase another 1.25% of Höegh Autoliners.

Best in class

The Horizon class

The Horizon Class vessel was Höegh Autoliners’ latest vessel model and the world’s largest PCTC with 14 decks, covering an area of 71.400 m² - the same area as 10 soccer fields - and a carrying capacity of 8 500 ceu. With a 375 tonne capacity stern ramp, 22 tonne capacity side ramp, 6.5 meter height on the main deck and five hoistable decks, this new design provides more operational flexibility.

Enhanced flexibility, larger capacity, and optimised hull and energy efficiency reduce the vessel’s environmental impact and ensure better service to our customers. We are proud to have the best CII rating in the PCTC segment, with all of our vessels built after 2010 achieving either an A or B rating and having an engine configuration that can be converted to Methanol in the future. Our six Horizon class vessels are 40% more efficient than a standard PCTC.

Oslo Stock Exchange

Höegh Autoliners ASA

In 2021, the company converted to a public limited liability company and changed its entity name from Höegh Autoliners Holdings AS to Höegh Autoliners ASA. Later, in 2021, the company successfully completed a Private Placement and was listed on Euronext Growth. In 2022, we up-listed on the main market of the Oslo Stock Exchange.

On a path to zero

The Aurora class

Höegh Autoliners is further accelerating its decarbonization efforts by building the most environmentally friendly car carrier ever built. The launch of the design of the Aurora class vessels and the signing of contracts for the delivery of the first eight Auroras by the second half of 2026, two every six months starting from H2 of 2024, is another decisive step on Höegh Autoliner's path to zero. The Auroras will be the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia and methanol-ready notations with the main engine provided by MAN and the bridge system supplied by Kongsberg Maritime.

Leif Høegh lived to see the transformation of his company from an entrepreneurial enterprise into an organisation headed by a professional management team under the leadership of his sons.

Read about Leif Høegh

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