Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off)
Ro-Ro is the sea transport of vehicles and machinery that drive onto the ship under their own power.
What is Ro-Ro?
Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) is a way of shipping wheeled and self-propelled machinery that drives onto a specialised vessel under its own power or is loaded on a rolltrailer. It suits cars, construction and special-purpose machinery and oversized units.
Loading and unloading are faster than with containers, but sailings are less frequent.
How it works in practice
Ro-Ro is used for wheeled machinery: cars, trucks, construction machines and trailers drive onto the vessel or are loaded on rolltrailers. Where a ferry line exists on the route, it can replace container shipping of vehicles and machinery.
Customs clearance of a vehicle differs from that of ordinary goods, which is why we handle such shipments together with the electronic vehicle passport (EPTS), the recycling fee and certification of the machinery. We only accept vehicles and machinery that are not subject to EU/UK/Swiss/US sanctions, and we screen the HS code and all parties before quoting.
Ro-Ro: frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a vehicle — Ro-Ro or a container?
On routes with ferries Ro-Ro is cheaper and needs no container loading and lashing. A container is chosen when there is no ferry line on the route or an expensive vehicle needs protecting from the elements.
Which documents are needed to import machinery?
Invoice, contract, documents on origin and year of manufacture, a certificate or type approval, a self-propelled machine passport (PSM) or, for cars, an EPTS, and payment of the recycling fee. Used machinery is additionally valued to calculate the charges.
Can non-running machinery go Ro-Ro?
Yes — on a rolltrailer or towed, but at extra cost: the terminal needs loaders or tractor units. For faulty machinery a container with a flat rack is usually more economical.
Related terms and services
More in this section
Request a quote
Reply within 2 business hours