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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 25, 2026 (Thu)

Höegh Autoliners to introduce ammonia-fueled vessels from 2027

Höegh Autoliners CEO Andreas Enger

　In an interview with this newspaper, Andreas Enger, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Norwegian ship ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80In+an+interview+with+this+newspaper%2C+Andreas+Enger%2C+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29+of+Norwegian+shipping+company+H%C3%B6egh+Autoliners%2C+pointed+out+that+the+explosive+growth+in+automobile+exports+from+China+has+further+intensified+the+asymmetry+in+transport+demand+and+is+one+factor+behind+the+continuing+shortage+of+shipping+capacity.+We+asked+CEO+Enger+about+the+outlook+for+the+PCTC+and+RORO+vessel+market%2C+environmental+initiatives%2C+and+his+aspirations+as+chairman+of+the+Norwegian+Shipowners%E2%80%99+Association.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+is+transport+demand+currently+for+the+various+types+of+cargo+you+carry%2C+such+as+automobiles+and+construction+machinery%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+for+routes+originating+in+Asia%2C+transport+demand+remains+extremely+strong+across+all+cargo+segments+and+regions+%28Japan%2C+South+Korea%2C+and+China%29%2C+from+automobiles+to+construction+machinery+and+break+bulk.+Transport+capacity+from+Asia+is+extremely+tight.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COn+the+other+hand%2C+demand+for+backhaul+shipments+from+Europe+and+the+United+States+to+Asia+has+eased.+Restrictions+on+access+to+Middle+Eastern+markets+have+also+cast+a+shadow+over+backhaul+cargo+movements.+As+an+overall+trend+in+the+RORO+shipping+industry%2C+an+extremely+asymmetric+supply-demand+gap+has+become+the+norm%3A+while+all+outbound+sailings+from+Asia+are+fully+booked%2C+many+vessels+have+no+choice+but+to+return+nearly+empty.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Explosive+increase+in+China-loaded+cargo+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--The+PCTC+market+was+expected+to+loosen+due+to+the+large+number+of+newbuild+deliveries+in+2024-2025%2C+but+tight+conditions+have+persisted.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+main+reason+why+supply+and+demand+for+RORO+vessel+capacity+has+not+eased+and+has+remained+tight+is+the+sharp+increase+in+automobile+exports+from+Asia%2C+far+exceeding+the+forecasts+of+many+market+participants.+In+particular%2C+exports+from+China+have+increased+explosively.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWith+steady+exports+from+Japan+and+South+Korea+maintained+and+additional+cargo+volume+from+China+added+on+top%2C+all+of+the+capacity+of+newbuilds+introduced+into+the+market+was+absorbed+by+demand+originating+from+Asia.+The+situation+still+resembles+a+worldwide+scramble+for+ships.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+outlook+for+vessel+supply+and+demand+going+forward%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+many+uncertain+factors+hindering+free+trade%2C+such+as+the+rise+of+protectionism%2C+the+introduction+of+new+tariffs%2C+trade+restrictions%2C+and+geopolitical+risks%2C+making+it+extremely+difficult+to+forecast.+Automobiles+and+construction+machinery+made+in+Asia+are+highly+competitive+in+the+global+market.+We+expect+this+trend+of+export+growth+to+continue+for+the+time+being.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+have+set+an+ambitious+environmental+target+of+achieving+net+zero+by+2040.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+building+12+next-generation+9%2C100-vehicle+RORO+vessels+in+the+%E2%80%99Aurora+Class.%E2%80%99+By+increasing+vessel+size%2C+optimizing+ship+design%2C+and+using+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+fuel%2C+we+can+reduce+CO2+%28carbon+dioxide%29+emissions+per+vehicle+transported+by+58%25+compared+with+conventional+vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+the+%E2%80%99Aurora+Class%E2%80%99+vessels+are+introduced+one+after+another%2C+GHG+emissions+from+the+fleet+as+a+whole+have+already+entered+a+declining+phase.+Next+year%2C+a+newbuild+capable+of+using+ammonia%2C+which+emits+no+CO2+during+combustion%2C+as+fuel+will+also+join+the+fleet.+This+will+effectively+give+us+the+ability+to+operate+on+virtually+zero-carbon+fuel.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CEven+with+existing+vessels%2C+we+use+biodiesel+fuel+on+almost+all+ships+and+have+established+a+system+to+provide+transportation+services+with+a+low+environmental+impact+in+response+to+shippers%E2%80%99+requests.+In+the+LNG-fueled+%E2%80%99Aurora+Class%2C%E2%80%99+we+are+also+considering+increasing+opportunities+to+use+bio-LNG+fuel%2C+which+offers+better+environmental+performance+than+fossil+fuel-derived+LNG.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+it+is+concerning+that+discussions+on+global+regulations+for+decarbonization+at+the+IMO+%28International+Maritime+Organization%29+have+stalled.+If+the+introduction+of+universal+international+rules+is+delayed%2C+it+could+lead+to+a+proliferation+of+complex+local+regulations.+There+is+a+risk+that+ship+operations+will+become+more+complex.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+view+the+sharp+increase+in+automobile+exports+from+China%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+rapid+expansion+of+annual+automobile+exports+from+less+than+1+million+vehicles+to+around+7+million+vehicles+in+just+a+few+years+has+dramatically+changed+the+structure+of+the+PCTC+and+RORO+vessel+market.+The+rapid+growth+of+China%E2%80%99s+automobile+exports+is+currently+the+biggest+driver+of+the+market.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+importance+of+the+Japanese+market+has+not+changed+simply+because+China+has+risen.+In+addition+to+automakers%2C+Japan+is+home+to+a+concentration+of+manufacturers+with+globally+high+technological+capabilities+and+competitiveness+in+fields+such+as+construction+machinery+and+break+bulk+cargo.+Japanese+shippers+have+always+been%2C+and+will+continue+to+be%2C+very+important+partners+for+us.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+ordering+newbuilds+from+Japanese+shipyards+and+on+ship+financing+in+Japan%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMany+of+the+large+RORO+vessels+we+operate+are+built+at+Chinese+shipyards.+Excessive+dependence+on+a+particular+country+is+undesirable+from+a+risk+management+perspective.+In+the+future%2C+we+strongly+hope+to+diversify+the+shipyards+we+use.+However%2C+placing+orders+in+Japan+is+not+easy+due+to+issues+such+as+mismatches+in+the+types+of+ships+being+built.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CJapan%E2%80%99s+ship+finance+market+is+sophisticated+and+very+attractive.+We+would+like+to+continue+utilizing+financing+and+joint+ownership+of+vessels+through+Japanese+partners+and+financial+institutions.+We+are+always+exploring+new+opportunities.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Sharing+values+with+Japan+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--In+March+this+year%2C+you+became+chairman+of+the+Norwegian+Shipowners%E2%80%99+Association.+What+are+your+thoughts+on+partnerships+with+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+am+very+pleased+that+during+my+latest+this+visit+to+Japan%2C+we+were+able+to+conclude+a+new+Memorandum+of+Understanding+%28MOU%29+with+the+Japanese+Shipowners%E2%80%99+Association.+Japan+and+Norway+are+both+among+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+traditional+maritime+nations+with+long+histories%2C+and+we+share+deeply+held+values+regarding+shipping.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+common+strengths+and+characteristics+of+the+maritime+industries+of+both+countries+are+our+thorough+commitment+to+safe+operations%2C+our+emphasis+on+seafarer+welfare%2C+and+the+fact+that+we+place+sustainable+shipping+that+is+responsible+to+the+environment+and+society+at+the+core+of+our+business.+We+also+share+a+strong+commitment+to+upholding+freedom+of+navigation+in+order+to+protect+free+trade%2C+as+well+as+a+high+aspiration+to+promote+decarbonization.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+a+time+when+the+common+values+of+these+traditional+maritime+nations+are+being+threatened+by+rising+geopolitical+risks+and+the+rise+of+protectionism%2C+solidarity+with+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+community+is+more+important+than+ever.+I+would+like+to+further+deepen+our+dialogue+with+JSA+and+move+forward+hand+in+hand+toward+our+shared+agenda.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E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