Amsterdam recently welcomed the world’s largest eco-friendly Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) Höegh Aurora on her maiden call to the Dutch port.
Operated by Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners, the 200m vessel is powered by bioLNG and is set to run on 100 per cent CO2-free ammonia by 2027.
The Aurora class ships can carry an impressive 9,100 car equivalent units (CEU) capacity, surpassing their predecessors, which hold 8,500 CEU per trip.
Docking at Koopman Car Terminal in Westhaven and handled by VCK Logistics, the ship’s maiden call brought a cariety of cargo, including 88 pieces of heavy machinery, 222 static loads, and 22 second-hand cars, among them a red Ferrari.
The vessel left Shanghai in August, making multiple stops across Asia and Africa, and is scheduled to call at more ports in Europe, including Antwerp-Bruges, Gothenburg, and Hamburg. Her next voyage to Japan is anticipated on 3 January 2025.
In honor of the ship’s maiden call, Ants Tilma of the Port of Amsterdam presented Captain Billy Joel Jope with a shield bearing the Amsterdam coat of arms.
The Aurora Class is fitted with 1,500 solar panels on its upper deck, spanning over 83,000 square metres, with a deadweight capacity of 25,200 tons, signaling a strong commitment to sustainable maritime transport.
Höegh Aurora approaches Santander harbour on 29 October 2024. (Prieto/shipspotting.com)
