Roll-on/Roll-off Ships and Containers: Two Routes for Automobile Ocean Voyages

With the increasing prosperity of global automobile trade, roll-on/roll-off ships and container ships, as the two main forces in automobile maritime transport, have significant differences in terms of transportation methods, ship structures, and loading/unloading processes. These differences also profoundly affect the efficiency and cost of automobile maritime transport.​
In terms of automobile transportation methods, when roll-on/roll-off ships transport automobiles, the vehicles can directly enter the cabin by their own power or through traction equipment. Whether it is cars, SUVs, or trucks, they can be parked in an orderly manner in the cabin of the roll-on/roll-off ship, and the whole process is as convenient as vehicles driving into a large parking lot.​

roll-on/roll-off ship
When container ships transport automobiles, they usually need to first securely fix the automobiles inside the containers. For smaller vehicles, such as compact cars, they will be carefully loaded into standard containers; some larger vehicles may require special-sized containers, but overall, they need to be placed and fixed in the containers first before being carried by container ships.​

container ship
In terms of ship structure, roll-on/roll-off ships are designed to adapt to automobile transportation, with multiple large decks. The height of the decks can meet the passage needs of different vehicle models. The ship is equipped with special ramps, through which vehicles can directly enter or exit the cabin. The internal space layout of the cabin is also more in line with the characteristics of vehicle parking, facilitating the movement and parking arrangement of vehicles.​
The structure of container ships is centered on carrying containers, with grids and devices on board for fixing containers. When transporting automobiles, the containers loaded with automobiles will be neatly stacked on these special structures, and the containers are secured by fixing devices to ensure their stability during navigation, so as to protect the automobiles inside the containers.​
In the loading and unloading process, when roll-on/roll-off ships load and unload automobiles, the vehicles directly enter or exit the cabin through the ramps. The whole process mainly relies on the vehicle's own power or simple traction equipment, without complex lifting operations, and can efficiently complete the loading and unloading of automobiles.​
When container ships load and unload automobiles, the containers with automobiles need to be hoisted onto or off the ship by dock cranes first, and then subsequent handling and automobile removal operations are carried out. The loading and unloading process depends on special equipment such as cranes, and the steps are relatively more complicated.​
When you once again gaze at the automobiles lined up at the port, ready to set sail, every gleaming light of readiness is a vivid footnote to "Made in China" heading to the world. Relying on a global transportation network and a sophisticated digital scheduling system, we will accurately plan and pave an exclusive voyage route for every vehicle.