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ShipA1 Jan 22, 2020

RORO is the simplest and cheapest method of shipping for vehicles. Vehicles are driven directly onto the RORO vessel and secured to the car decks. They are securely inside the boat, wind-and-watertight. It is important to note that you cannot ship personal effects using this method, but spare tire and factory fitted accessories are allowed. RORO overseas shipping is a popular way of transporting cargo to other countries. The idea was created and developed by Japanese car manufacturers to ship their cars to the USA and Europe in a fast and efficient manner by using specialized ships called “vehicle carriers.”

Nowadays, RORO carriers can handle not just cars but all types of motorized, rolling, and even static cargo: trucks, boats, buses, motor homes, travel trailers, tractors, excavators, cranes, and other high & heavy equipment and machinery. International RORO shipping is popular with exporters and importers mainly for two reasons: cost and efficiency. The cargo is “rolled on” the vessel at the port of loading and “rolled off” the ship at the overseas destination. The port workers handle everything. There’s no need to hire and pay export warehouse for crating, container packing, flat rack loading, port delivery, etc. This really helps in keeping the cost of international shipping down.

Shipping via RORO service from the U.S. can be arranged from the major ocean ports: Lagos, Takoradi, Tema, Lomé, Dakar, Abidjan, Banjul, Conakry, Cotonou, Douala, Freetown, Libreville, Luanda, Moravia, Pointe-Noire. But there is a mark in favor of container shipping for vehicles. That’s broader shipping options. The only problem with RORO shipping is geographical coverage, while RORO transportation does have global routes; it is still not as all-encompassing as container shipping. Some smaller countries may not even have any options for international RORO transport; however, container shipping can get you pretty much anywhere you want to go. Our knowledgeable staff will be able to advise you on the availability of RORO shipping to the destinations of your choice and whether it would be more advisable for you to do your auto shipping by the container. We’ll make sure we find the option that is best for your shipment. Auto-shipping requires a little bit more paperwork than some other types of cargo when you are shipping internationally.

 

A BRIEF GUIDE INTO RORO SHIPPING OF VEHICLES:

Before we get into the advantages and disadvantages 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 more comfortable for you to 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. 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 keep on shipping, you indeed save on tax duties too! Now that’s a good deal.

Convenient. The outstanding and useful fact about RORO shipping is that it can apply to any 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.

 

BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RORO AND CONTAINER SHIPPING:

Since all companies which offer you 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.

 

SHIPPING METHOD #1: THE RORO SHIPPING METHOD:

RORO is primarily using for shipping all types of vehicles, including buses, large agricultural utilities, plant machinery, SUVs, yachts and boats, trailer homes, trucks, cranes, excavators, cars, and any other type of motorized vehicle shipping. The RORO shipping method is preferred by many because of its simplicity and its cost-effectiveness. When using RORO, which means Roll on/Roll off, the vehicles been transported are driven, rolled, or towed directly on the ship at the port of loading before being transported to the overseas destination. Once the cars are on board, they are secured to the ship’s deck in a watertight vessel, sort of like a huge car park filled with new shiny vehicles. When you select RORO as your shipping method of choice, you do not have to pay export warehouses for container packing, crating, port delivery, or flat rack loading because the port workers take care of all the vital processes. RORO is more effective when shipping a single car from abroad because your vehicle can be dropped off directly at your desired destination. On the other hand, when shipping multiple vehicles, the scenario will dictate that you make various trips so as to offload the cars. Alternatively, you can hire a car carrier trailer, which will undoubtedly add to your expenses. Furthermore, when shipping multiple vehicles from overseas, keep in mind that every vehicle that you add to the RORO roster will also increase your overall cost. Whether this seems like a good idea to you will depend on your budget as well as how far you live from the port or from your chosen freight forwarding service.

 

SHIPPING METHOD #2: CONTAINER SHIPPING:

The RORO method of shipping a car is by far the most popular and viable technique for single vehicles. However, it does face several geographical limitations. For instance, RORO shipping is widely available, but it is not accessible everywhere, which is where the container shipping method comes in to do what RORO shipping cannot. Container shipping is more secure than the RORO shipping method, and it has global routes pretty much in the most popular ports of the world. The container shipping method is ideal if you are shipping a brand new or a luxury car because containers ensure that your vehicle arrives without any damages in most cases. When using the container shipping method, your vehicle is typically loaded into a shipping container, and then it is secured using nylon, ratchet, or chock straps so that it does not move during transit. Upon loading, wooden braces are also placed around each of the vehicle’s tires and nailed to the floor to secure the car further. If you are shipping additional items alongside your vehicle, such as tires, repair machinery, etc., you can also place them inside your container to save costs. A standard 20 ft shipping container can accommodate a single vehicle and still leave plenty of space for other items while a 40 ft one can hold two average-sized cars. With the container shipping method, you are assured that your goods will arrive at your port of choice safely regardless of where in the world they are coming. Shipping containers have to comply with strict regulations to make sure that they are structurally sound, watertight, and incapable of allowing damaging elements such as wind or water.

 

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS:

All things considered: RORO is a better and useful option. If you want faster delivery of your vehicle, your vehicle is in the running condition. You aren’t shipping personal items with the cars. I wish to save money on your vehicle transportation.