Maritime Glossary
Ro-Ro
Also known as: Roll-on/Roll-off, RORO
A vessel designed for wheeled cargo driven on and off via bow, stern, or side ramps.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (96%)
Full Definition
Ro-Ro vessels carry wheeled cargo (vehicles, trailers, project cargo) on multiple internal decks accessed via hydraulic ramps. Sub-types: Pure Car Carrier (PCC)/PCTC for vehicles; Ro-Ro cargo ships for trailers; Ro-Pax ferries for vehicles and passengers. Cargo is secured with lashing chains. Stability is critical because rolling loads affect the free-surface effect. SOLAS requirements for Ro-Ro passenger ships were significantly strengthened after the Estonia disaster (1994).
Domain Tags
vessel typescargo