Höegh and Sumitomo sign LoI for ammonia-fuelled PCTCs

Höegh Autoliners and Sumitomo Corporation have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate on the supply of clean ammonia for the Oslo-based company’s next generation of Aurora-class pure car truck carriers (PCTCs). The plans involve the supply of clean ammonia in the ports of Singapore and Jacksonville from 2027 onwards.

The twelve PCTCs are set to become the largest and most eco-friendly vehicle carriers ever built, Höegh said. They will be capable of running on zero-carbon ammonia or carbon-neutral methanol. 

In the months ahead, the companies intend to evaluate the compatibility between the PCTCs and the ammonia bunkering facilities at the specific ports. They intend to make necessary adjustments to ship specifications for both shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship bunkering operations. Safety assessments will be carried out to establish standardised operational protocols and regulations in close coordination with the relevant government agencies.  

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said: “The commitment with Sumitomo Corporation is a strong strategic move in our efforts to offer our customers net-zero transportation globally, addressing the need for sustainable fuel availability in key ports such as Singapore and Jacksonville. Pioneering net-zero transportation on ammonia-powered vessels places us at the forefront of the international shipping industry, and we take pride in collaborating with Sumitomo Corporation to achieve this significant milestone.”

General manager of Sumitomo Corporation’s Energy Division, Koji Endo, declared: “There is a compelling need for organisations to collaborate in the worldwide endeavour to attain future net-zero goals. Our collaboration with Höegh Autoliners embodies this commitment and is geared towards being a trailblazer and facilitator of the global maritime decarbonisation effort.

“While the adoption of electric vehicles is important for greening land transportation systems worldwide,” he continued, “it is equally important to address the decarbonisation of the maritime transportation process used to deliver these vehicles from the production facilities to their destinations. In this context, Sumitomo Corporation supports Höegh Autoliners by exploring the potential to provide clean ammonia as a bunker fuel for their modern vessels at strategic port locations.”