A Ro-Ro ship carries wheeled cargo — cars, trucks, trailers, heavy machinery — that is driven directly onto and off the vessel via ramps, rather than lifted aboard by crane.
Key Features
- Stern and/or bow ramps — allowing vehicles to drive directly on and off, often even while berthed alongside without specialized shore equipment
- Multiple vehicle decks — internal decks, sometimes with adjustable heights (hoistable decks) to accommodate different vehicle sizes
- Fast turnaround — Ro-Ro loading/discharge is significantly faster than crane-based cargo handling, well-suited to short-sea and ferry-style routes
Common Uses
- New vehicle export/import (car carriers, a specialized Ro-Ro subtype often called PCTC — Pure Car and Truck Carrier)
- Ferry services carrying both passenger vehicles and freight
- Short-sea freight routes where speed of turnaround matters commercially
Safety Considerations
Ro-Ro vessels have historically faced particular stability concerns related to their large open vehicle decks and relatively high center of gravity — proper vehicle securing (lashing) and watertight door management are safety-critical, well-documented areas of concern following past Ro-Ro casualties.
Exam Relevance
Ro-Ro-specific stability considerations and vehicle securing requirements are covered within broader Ship Stability and Cargo Work topics in deck officer competency exams.