---

On 25th August, the fifth vessel in Hoegh Autoliners' New Horizon-class series was named the Hoegh Traveller at a naming ceremony at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industries in China.

Mrs Harumi Hiraoka, spouse of Mr Akihiko Hiraoka, Executive Vice President of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd, named the vessel at the traditional ceremony.

Hoegh Traveller is the fifth in a series of six post-panamax vessels under the New Horizon design that Hoegh Autoliners will take delivery of within this year.

The ship, together with its sister vessels, is designed to minimise its impact on the environment. Energy efficiency principles have been followed throughout the ship design process and attention has also been paid on optimising the hull form in order to combine high cargo capacity and low fuel consumption.

In addition to calm water performance, special focus has been paid on added resistance in heavy seas and wind resistance. Furthermore, the New Horizon vessels are estimated to emit 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) per car transported than a standard car carrier.

The Hoegh Traveller and its sister vessels have been given DNV-GL's class notification 'CLEAN' for their cleaner design.

With its deck space of 71,400 square meters and carrying capacity of 8,500 car equivalent units, the vessel is one of the world's largest pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs).

Hoegh Traveller is scheduled to begin its maiden voyage from East Asia to Europe in early September, and is thereafter planned to sail from Europe back to East Asia via Africa and Oceania.