Höegh Autoliners Orders Landmark Ammonia Engines

By Simon West

Höegh Autoliners has placed a landmark order for four ammonia-burning engines in a move it billed as a “major leap for maritime decarbonization”.

The Everllence B&W ME-LGIA (liquid gas injection ammonia) dual-fuel engines will be delivered to an undisclosed Asian shipyard for the construction of four of its Aurora-class pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).

The engines will be built in South Korea by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

“The engines are the beating heart of our vessels, and we take it as a clear mark of confidence that Everllence has chosen us to install some of the world’s first two-stroke ammonia engines on our final four Aurora Class vessels,” said Sebjørn Dahl, chief operations officer at Norway-based Höegh Autoliners.

Christian Ludwig, head of two-stroke sales and promotion at Everllence, said the company has been running its two-stroke ammonia test engine since 2023.

“Using the diesel principle, the ME-LGIA engine concept has many of the same merits as our existing dual-fuel engines that already entered operation over a decade ago,” Ludwig said.

“Inspired by these engines, we are – among other innovations – using the same sealing-oil design for the fuel-booster injection valves as this has proven to be particularly important and efficient. By end-2026, we tentatively expect to have a small number of demonstration projects on the water to enable a commercial market introduction of the G50-, S60-, G60-, G70- and G80-bore ME-LGIA engines based on positive service experience.”

Höegh Autoliners describes its Aurora Class as the largest and most environmentally friendly PCTC ever built. The vessels have a capacity to hold 9,100 car equivalent units (CEUs).

Höegh Autoliners will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas.