GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) Shipping
Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) shipping enters the picture the moment a vehicle drives up the vessel's ramp under its own power—no crane, no lifting equipment required.
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Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/a-guide-to-roll-on-roll-off-shipping
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Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?
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Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) shipping enters the picture the moment a vehicle drives up the vessel's ramp under its own power—no crane, no lifting equipment required. Cars, trucks, construction machinery, and self-propelled heavy haul units are loaded and discharged by driving on and off, cutting port turnaround times significantly and eliminating crane-related damage risk. Ro/Ro vessels are the backbone of global automotive trade and are equally common on ferry corridors where rolling cargo and accompanied freight travel together. Unlike Lo/Lo (Lift-on/Lift-off) operations, which rely on crane handling for containers, Ro/Ro depends entirely on the cargo's own mobility—reducing both port labour costs and cargo damage claims. Forwarders must specify at booking whether the cargo is unaccompanied (vehicle without driver) or accompanied (with driver), as this distinction drives port procedures and pricing.
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