When delivered to her owners in July 2015, Höegh Target was the first in class of six “New Horizon Class” post-panamax auto carriers that are still the largest such vessels in the world. The vessel has 14 decks and a cargo opening to enable handling of units up to 6.5m high and 12m wide with a strengthened stern ramp allowing for handling of loads of up to 375 tonnes

• Built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry, PRC in 2015


• Owned and operated by Hoegh Autoliners


• LOA 199m


• Beam 36m


• GRT 75,717 tons


• DWT 20,766 MT


• Capacity 8,500 ceu (car equivalent units)


• Sister ships: Höegh Tracer. Trapper, Traveller. Trigger, Trotter

To optimize her dimensions, Höegh Target incorporates a hull design that combines high cargo capacity with low fuel consumption resulting in CO2 emissions up to 50% less than those of a standard car carrier. This was achieved by extensive model testing with a strong focus on added resistance in heavy seas and wind resistance. In so doing she qualified for DNV-GL’s class notification “CLEAN” for its cleaner design.

Based in Oslo, Norway, and with a history dating back to 1927, Höegh Autoliners is a leading global provider of roll-on/roll-off transportation. The company operates 15 trade routes in global trade systems alone or in partnerships, with about 3,000 port calls annually. The services are supported by regional trade directly and through Joint Ventures in Europe, East Asia and the Caribbean, engaging 17 vessels in 7 regional trade routes with day to day management delegated to a global network of around 20 offices, owner's representatives and agents. The company has approximately 400 shore-based employees and 900 seafarers. Sister company Höegh LNG is a leading owner & operator of LNG and FLNG units.

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In September 2019, Klaveness Combination Carriers took delivery of M.V. Barramundi from New Yangzi Shipyard in China. From a casual observation, this was not an exceptional event except that she is the third new build in a fleet of what will eventually be nine so-called “CLEANBU” combination carriers. That is to say, a series of high specification new builds capable of carrying wet or bulk cargoes. Deliveries are scheduled until 2021.

As construction of British Columbia’s first LNG export project moves ahead, we are reminded of a number of LNG export projects across the globe that have required courage and vision along with the acceptance of commercial risk to bring them to a successful final investment decision. The major LNG producers of Qatar, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Nigeria, Russia and Indonesia and Norway have each overcome challenges unique to their geography and environment.

With COP 25 concluding this week in Madrid, it is perhaps worthwhile to recognize the technologies being employed over the past decade in pursuit of the exponentially growing demand for installation of offshore wind turbines. A good example of the purpose-built heavy-lift jack-up vessels employed in this trade is Pacific Orca owned by Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO).

In July this year, the Royal Boskalis Westminster owned semi-submersible heavy lift vessel BOKA Vanguard loaded the LOA 324m x 37m beam cruise ship Carnival Vista for drydocking and repair of the vessel’s azipod propulsion system in the Grand Bahama Bahama shipyard Freeport, Bahamas. The unusual operation was an emergency solution to the closure of one of Grand Bahama Shipyard's three drydocks following a crane collapse which damaged Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

Based here in Vancouver, Canada, Methanex is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol. The company operates production sites in Canada, Chile, Egypt, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States supported by a global supply chain of terminals, storage facilities and the world’s largest dedicated fleet of methanol tankers. 

After beginning her maiden voyage from the Norwegian port of Tromso in early July this year the Hurtigruten expedition cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen has just become the first battery-hybrid powered ship to sail over 3,000 nautical miles through the Northwest Passage. She sailed from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on August 20 to Nome, Alaska, arriving on September 10.

It seems that we are constantly receiving updates on the latest “world’s largest container ship” but it must be said that the decision of Switzerland based Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) to invest in a new class of mega Ultra Large container Ships (ULCS) is really pushing the boundaries. With 24 rows of containers, the intended class of 11 vessels sets a significant new container crane challenge for terminals.