Roll-on/roll-off ships, better known as Ro-Ro ships, are called so because of their design. The cargo that is loaded into Ro-Ro ships is rolled into the vessels. They are specifically meant to carry wheeled cargo like cars, trucks, trailers, and more. Ro-Ro ships come with a built-in ramp that is used for wheeling in the cargo. If you have been considering buying RoRo vessels for sale, have a clear understanding of the types of different Ro-Ro ships. Each has a specific purpose and can help your business in different ways.
Different Types of Ro-Ro Vessels
1. Pure Car Carrier
Ro-Ro vessels were primarily meant for transporting wheeled cargo, specifically automobiles, across water bodies. A Pure Car Carrier is specifically designed for the efficient transportation of cars, trucks, buses, tractors, and other four-wheeled vehicles that are loaded into the ship using the ramp. These vessels are usually huge and have a superstructure that runs along the full length and breadth of the ship’s hull. It becomes a box-like structure that completely encloses the cargo. Pure Car Carriers (PCC) are also commonly referred to as Pure Car Truck Carrier (PCTC).
2. ConRO
As can be derived from the name, ConRo ships are a hybrid design of a container ship and a RoRo vessel. This type of vessel is divided into two separate storage areas. The top deck of a ConRo ship is utilised for the methodical stacking of large freight containers. And the bottom area is used to keep all types of wheeled cargo like four-wheelers. The ship is installed with internal ramps so that containers can be easily rolled in and rolled off from the upper deck.
3. RoLo
RoLo ships stand for the acronym Roll-on/Lift-off vessels. These ships also feature two separate storage areas, namely the cargo deck on the top and the vehicle deck on the bottom. The vehicle deck is accessible via ramps for the loading and unloading of the wheeled cargo, but large shipping cranes need to be used to load and discharge the heavy cargo on the upper deck.
Why Choose Ro-Ro Vessels?
1. Speed
RoRo vessels are high-speed vessels. It is the quickest mode of transport for cars, trucks, and other automobiles. Since the wheeled cargo can be easily driven onto and then off the ship, it saves the loading and unloading time. The process is much smoother and more efficient, thus, saving time.
2. Integrates with other transport development
RoRo ships enjoy the benefit of easy integration with other transportation modes, like container vessels. They can be utilized for shipping Customs-sealed container units across borders with a minimum of delay. Such benefits allow RoRo shipping to be more efficient and quicker.
3. Popular among private car owners
For transporting private vehicles across the sea, RoRo vessels are the preferred choice of most private car owners. It is common among leisure travellers. RoRo ships are easily available on rent or can be taken on lease for the transportation of private vehicles.
Final Words
We have already seen the different types of RoRo ships explained above. They can be used for various purposes depending on the business goal. If you’re looking to purchase RoRo vessels for sale, contact Norwegian Ship Sales for a professional consult.
