Höegh Aurora Makes Maiden Call to India, Expanding Low-Emission Vehicle Shipping Capacity

Aurora Class vessel visits Ennore, Mumbai and Pipavav as Höegh Autoliners strengthens India-Europe automotive trade links

Norwegian car carrier operator Höegh Autoliners has marked the maiden call of its flagship Aurora Class vessel, Höegh Aurora, to India, with port calls at Ennore, Mumbai and Pipavav.

The visit comes shortly after India and Norway announced a Green Strategic Partnership, which identified green shipping as a key area of cooperation. The vessel’s arrival highlights growing maritime links between the two countries while supporting the movement of Indian-manufactured vehicles to international markets.

Aurora Class designed for lower-emission shipping

Höegh Aurora is the first of 12 Aurora Class Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) being introduced by Höegh Autoliners as part of its fleet renewal programme.

The vessel has a cargo capacity of 9,100 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) across 14 decks, making it one of the largest vehicle carriers in operation. The Aurora Class has been designed with a focus on reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency compared with conventional vehicle carriers.

According to Höegh Autoliners, the vessel can achieve up to 58% lower carbon emissions per transported vehicle compared with the current industry average. The ship is also designed to be ammonia-ready, enabling future operation on zero-carbon ammonia fuel once fuel availability and infrastructure mature.

India remains a key automotive export market

Höegh Autoliners has been transporting vehicles and rolling cargo from India for more than 15 years, connecting Indian manufacturers with markets across Europe, North America, Oceania and other regions.

The deployment of the Aurora Class vessel increases available capacity on these trade routes while supporting customer efforts to reduce supply chain emissions.

“The maiden call of Höegh Aurora marks an exciting new chapter in our 15-year commitment to Indian trade. As one of our most important and dynamic markets, India plays a key role in our global network, and with Höegh Aurora we can now offer our customers industry-leading capacity and the most sustainable deep-sea transportation in our segment,” said Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.