From Vision to Reality: DNV-Approved Tank Installed on first Aurora Class Vessel

Lower costs
Net zero carbon emissions
Long-term potential and scalability

The upsides of ammonia as a viable sustainable fuel are alluring. To say the least.

Last week, the first DNV-approved LNG/ammonia tank was lifted onboard and installed on Höegh Autoliners´ first Aurora Class newbuild making the vessel a genuine sustainability first mover within the PCTC segment.

Tasks were carried out under the supervision of TGE Marine engineers and shipyard specialists. Reports from the shipyard in China indicate that everything proceeded smoothly and according to plan.

The installation of the ships´ most expensive single component represents another concrete step on our path to decarbonization of our customers' supply chains and will accelerate a push towards net zero shipping.

The Aurora Class will be the largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier ever built. All of our Aurora Class vessels will have the tank system from TGE onboard.

From LNG to ammonia

With the installation of the 3,400 m3 capacity stainless steel tank measuring a staggering 40.5m x 13.4m x 8.0m on our first Aurora class vessel, we are edging even closer to fulfilling our ambitious emission cuts target.

Höegh Autoliners´ Aurora Class, the first two vessels expected to be delivered in H2 of 2024, will be the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia and methanol-ready notations.

TGE Marine is the leading liquefied gas systems’ provider, having vast experience in working with these tanks providing safe and reliable systems for their customers.

Thanks to their expertise the LNG/ammonia tanks are ready to store ammonia. With an easy coating, the tanks will be able to store methanol making the LNG/ammonia/methanol combination unique in the industry.

“At Höegh Autoliners we have a strong commitment to continue to discover environmentally sustainable solutions. We consider clean ammonia a future maritime fuel with high potential that will contribute to solving the greenhouse gas emission challenges associated with global maritime transportation,” says the COO of Höegh Autoliners, Sebjørn Dahl.

Höegh Autoliners recently partnered with Yara Clean Ammonia, the world’s largest ammonia distributor, for a future supply deal for clean ammonia.

Being a member of the First Movers Coalition, a World Economic Forum-backed initiative focused on reducing emissions in the ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors, Höegh Autoliners has committed to powering at least 5% of our deep-sea operations with green ammonia by 2030.

The goal is to run its fleet on at least 100,000 metric tons of green ammonia by that same year.

Ammonia as a deep-sea fuel

Technically speaking, ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. It has about half the energy density of bunker fuels and takes on a liquid form at -33C, meaning it does not require being stored in high-pressure or cryogenic tanks.

According to Global Maritime Forum´s briefing paper on ammonia, the synthesis of ammonia from zero carbon hydrogen using the Haber-Bosch process is efficient and fully scaled.

Because the Haber-Bosch process requires less energy than the synthesis of methanol or e-methane, ammonia is expected to be cheaper than either of these other sustainable fuels.

Educating personnel

At Höegh Autoliners we have an ongoing initiative to train our seafarers in the operation of ammonia-fuelled vessels – something that is currently a focal point of our efforts.

Establishing a stable cohort of seafarers holds significance as it ensures their familiarity with our fleet, while also enabling them to transfer their knowledge and extensive expertise seamlessly to the upcoming Aurora Class vessels.