BUS3012 Week 6: Assignment 2
History of RO/RO vessels
Roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) vessels offer a specialized method for handling wheeled cargo
like cars, trucks, trailers, and even railroad cars. These ships are designed to allow
cargo to be “rolled on” at the origin and “rolled off” at the destination, contrasting with
traditional lift-on/lift-off (LoLo) methods that use cranes for loading and unloading.
The history of RO/RO vessels date back over a century to the era of steam trains,
where ships were specially outfitted with rails to transport trains across wide rivers that
were not bridgeable. An early example of this can be seen in the Firth of Forth ferry
service in Scotland, initiated in 1851 (International Maritime Organization, 2019).
However, the RO/RO principle as applied to road transport only became practical during
World War II with the development of tank landing craft, which played a crucial role in
the D-Day landings and other assaults.
The transition of the RO/RO concept to commercial shipping emerged in the late 1940s
and early 1950s, gaining popularity, particularly for short-sea ferry routes. This rise was
boosted by the growth in road transport and the need for more efficient ship-to-shore
cargo transfer methods. RO/RO ships offered advantages in speed and efficiency over
traditional cargo vessels, as vehicles could quickly drive on and off the ships,
significantly reducing port dwell times (Shafran, 2024).
The evolution of RO/RO vessels continued through the decades, with the 1960s
witnessing the introduction of ships specifically designed for large-scale automobile
transport. This period saw the launch of dedicated car carriers by companies like
Volkswagen for exporting vehicles to North America. The demand for such specialized
vessels grew in tandem with the global automobile market, leading to the development
of Pure Car Carriers (PCCs) and Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), which featured
extensive ramps and internal decks to facilitate the efficient loading and unloading of
vehicles. These carriers were designed with box-like superstructures that fully enclosed
the cargo, protecting it during transit and allowing for the transportation of thousands of
vehicles in a single voyage.
