Is RoRo Shipping the right move for vehicle transportation?

May 21, 2018

When it comes to the international transportation of vehicles, importers usually prefer one of two major shipping methods: Container shipping and RoRo shipping. Basically, either one of these is quite practical and secure when it comes to the safe transportation of your vehicle. However, there are some consideration to be made in terms of whether or not RoRo is the better of the two options. So, today we discuss the benefits and flaws of the RoRo shipping methods, as well as the difference it has in comparison with container shipping.

A brief guide into RoRo shipping of vehicles

Before we get into the advantages and disadvantage of “Roll-on Roll-off” shipping (RoRo), we should explore why it is named so. The name of the method actually portrays the manner in which you load and unload your vehicle onto the sea freight carrier. Given that cars are mobile, it’s far easier for you to simply drive them onto a ship instead of packaging them for transport. And this leads us to the matter of the advantages of RoRo.

Benefits of RoRo Shipping

Affordability. RoRo is the most preferred shipping method to ship vehicles from one port to the other. In fact, it is also the fastest method of transportation that will free you of any additional expenses. If your country uses CIF to calculate duties and taxes, then you can save double. And as long as you save on shipping, you certainly save on tax duties too! Now that’s a good deal.

Convenient. The really good and useful fact about RoRo shipping is that it can apply to any type of vehicle. So long as you or the professional moving company you hire provide a trailer with wheels for boats and caravans, you have no need to pull them apart to fit inside a container. You may even be able to drive your car right from the destination port if you have enough gas left in the tank.

Drawbacks with RoRo forwarding

There are, however, also certain disadvantages with this particular vehicle shipping method:

Availability. Not all countries have the option of RoRo available at their ports. And that might cause issues for planning certain relocation routes. Most smaller countries don’t have it but most larger cities or ports do. All in all, make sure to check before you plan your NJ transport.

Safety. Although RoRo shipping is considered more affordable and convenient, it is also more high-risk in terms of vehicle safety. The main reasons for this are the loading/unloading stage, during which accidents can occur, and the open exposure to diverse climate changes.

Speed. The lack of RoRo availability at certain ports can cause delays in transportation. If this does occur, importers have to find a port that offers this option in their close vicinity.

Basic differences between RoRo and Container Shipping

Since all companies which offer you with the option of RoRo shipping will also offer Container shipping, you should know the main differences between the two before making a decision. It’s important to note that in order to use transport your vehicle with RoRo, it has to be in running condition. Otherwise, the only logical option you have is the use of Container shipping. And here are some other differences to bear in mind:

The matter of personal belongings. Container shipping allows for spare tires and other items to be shipped along with the car. By contrast, with RoRo shipping, you have to remove any personal belongings from the vehicle.

Fixed arrival and departure dates. Unlike container shipping, RoRo shipping also guarantees reliable departure and arrival dates.

Difference in costs. Since RoRo is the cheapest option when it comes to vehicle transport, it’s only logical that it will be the more affordable option in comparison with container shipping.

When you consider everything, you realize the overall advantages of RoRo shipping over Container Shipping.