The world’s largest car carrier, the “Höegh Sunrise”, has called at DP World’s Jebel Ali port for the first time. During its maiden voyage from Europe to Dubai, 1,200 vehicles were unloaded.
The world’s largest car carrier, the “Höegh Sunrise”, has called at the port of Jebel Ali for the first time. The Norwegian-flagged PCTC from Höegh Autoliners is around 200 meters long, 38 meters wide and has a draught of around 10 meters. The “Aurora” class vessel is prepared for alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol and can reduce CO₂ emissions per transported vehicle by up to 58% compared to the industry standard, according to Höegh Autoliners. The capacity is 9,100 cars; 1,200 vehicles were unloaded on the maiden voyage from Europe to Dubai.
With reinforced decks and optimized ramp systems, the “Aurora” class units can transport electric cars on all fourteen decks. All ships in the series are DNV-certified as “ammonia-ready” and “methanol-ready” – a first in the PCTC segment.
“The ‘Höegh Sunrise’ is a pioneer in sustainable shipping. Her arrival underlines Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive industry. By handling the largest and most advanced car carriers, we are enabling the transition to greener supply chains while supporting more than 940 automotive companies based in the Jafza,” emphasized Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC.
The port and terminal operator DP World set a new record in Dubai in 2024 with around 1.3 million vehicles handled – an increase of 53.6% compared to the previous year. In August, capacity was expanded with an additional 2.6 million sqft of parking space at Terminal 4. In addition, a car terminal with 1.86 million sqft of space is currently under construction and has been announced as the world’s largest.
