Kongsberg Maritime has secured DNV class certification for its new Höegh Aurora Engine Room Simulator, providing a high-fidelity digital twin of Höegh Autoliners’ landmark multi-fuel, ammonia-ready vessel class. By commercializing this certified training model worldwide, the company fills a critical industry vacancy, allowing crews to safely master complex, zero-carbon propulsion systems as shipping faces ratcheting decarbonization targets.
Norway | May 13, 2026 – Leading maritime technology developer Kongsberg Maritime has officially secured a Simulator Statement of Compliance from classification society DNV for its newly developed Engine Room Simulator (ERS) model. The high-fidelity simulator is built explicitly around the technical blueprint of the Höegh Aurora, the multi-fuel, zero-carbon-ready flagship leading Höegh Autoliners’ pioneering Aurora Class Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) fleet.
The class approval follows an intensive physical demonstration and operational audit conducted by DNV‘s certification specialists. The validation confirms the model’s complete compliance with DNV’s strict maritime simulation standards, clearing the pathway for global deployment across maritime training academies preparing crews for next-generation alternative propulsion networks.
The Technology Interface: Replicating a 9,100 CEU Powerhouse
The Höegh Aurora is widely regarded as a technological benchmark in deep-sea roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping. As the industry faces escalating pressure to transition away from heavy fuel oils, the engineering architecture inside the Aurora Class represents an intricate web of novel, multi-fuel propulsion systems.
Kongsberg Maritime’s new ERS model translates this physical complexity into a digital training environment. The simulator replicates the vessel’s primary systems, ensuring engineers can safely familiarize themselves with high-stakes operational variables before stepping aboard.
Key Simulated Parameters & Vessel Assets
- Capacity Scope: Replicates the power requirements and balancing logistics of a vessel capable of hauling 9,100 Car Equivalent Units (CEU), including heavy electric vehicle (EV) transport configurations across 14 decks.
- Multi-Fuel Infrastructure: Simulates liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulfur oil fuel-switching loops, while preparing engineers for upcoming retrofits.
- Ammonia-Ready Logistics: Covers safety, pressure management, and fuel-handling setups required for zero-carbon ammonia propulsion systems, matching the vessel’s DNV ammonia- and methanol-ready notations.
- Auxiliary Efficiency Systems: Models the vessel’s integrated 1,500-square-meter top-deck solar array, automated propulsion optimization tools, and cold-ironing shore power systems designed for zero-emission port operations.
Human Factors in the Zero-Carbon Transition
As multi-million-dollar green vessels begin leaving shipyards, the global maritime sector is facing a severe competency gap. Novel fuels like ammonia present unique toxicity, corrosive, and cryogenic risks that standard STCW training frameworks do not adequately cover.
By integrating this exact model into its standard commercial simulation portfolio, Kongsberg is addressing the “human element” bottleneck of the green transition. Engineers can train for critical machinery failures, gas leaks, and thermal management adjustments without operational risk.
“Independent verification from DNV demonstrates the accuracy and quality of our simulator models,” stated Are Føllesdal Tjønn, Managing Director of Maritime Simulation at Kongsberg Maritime. “At the same time, it strengthens our ability to support customers as they introduce new vessel designs and transition to more sustainable operations.”
Leif Pentti Halvorsen, VP Engine Room and Cargo Handling at Kongsberg’s Maritime Simulation unit, emphasized that extending real-world shipboard technologies into certified simulation loops ensures that crews can effectively manage and protect complex assets from day one of deployment.
Macro Perspective: Aligning with Höegh’s 2040 Net-Zero Horizon
The commercial rollout of this training model aligns closely with the aggressive fleet renewal timelines of the broader RoRo sector:
- The 2040 Target: Höegh Autoliners has committed to operating a completely net-zero fleet by 2040, ten years ahead of the standard International Maritime Organization (IMO) baseline.
- Yard Allocations: The first wave of Aurora Class vessels entered commercial operations in late 2024. By the close of 2027, all 12 contracted sister ships will be active, with the final vessels designed to run on green ammonia straight from the shipyard.
- The Technology Suite: Kongsberg Maritime is already deeply integrated into the physical vessels, providing the automation, navigation bridges, deck handling, and propulsion optimization packages.
By mirroring the physical hardware with a certified digital twin, the partnership ensures that corporate decarbonization milestones are backed by technically proficient human capital.
Corporate Profiles
About Höegh Autoliners
Höegh Autoliners is a premier global provider of ocean transportation services within the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipping segment. Managing an expansive international network of deep-sea trades, the operator transports roughly 1.6 million car equivalent units annually for top-tier automotive manufacturers and heavy machinery suppliers, leading the sector in rapid asset decarbonization.
About Kongsberg Maritime
Headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, Kongsberg Maritime is a global leader in marine technology, delivering integrated solutions to more than 34,000 vessels worldwide. Operating across 34 countries, the company’s extensive technological portfolio spans maritime automation, safety systems, dynamic positioning, electronic navigation, propulsion optimization, and specialized ship design.
Source: Kongsberg Maritime