Ro/ro cargo

News and analysis of roll-on/roll-off rates, carriers, services, technology, strategy, ports, forwarders

The latest Ro/ro cargo News & Analysis

Greek operator Neptune orders two 4,200-unit car carriers in fleet expansion move

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Sep 12, 2023, 1:39 PM EDT

The carrier’s dual-fuel newbuildings will be the first in a series of vessels to be delivered over the next decade.
Ro/ro cargoNorth American portsInternational ports

Strong demand, tight tonnage boost earnings for ro/ro sector

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 21, 2023, 4:26 PM EDT

Longer term, global vehicle sales are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels from 2024 onward, while high and heavy volumes are also expected to remain strong.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Wallenius Wilhelmsen orders up to 12 ro/ro ships amid market strength

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 18, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

The carrier did not disclose the value of the vessel order, but shipbroking sources estimate the price of each ship at $140 million to $150 million, based on their size and multi-fuel capability. 
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Heightened biosecurity program drives Australian ro/ro port congestion

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jul 24, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

A rigorous hunt for seeds and pollen is disrupting vehicle and high & heavy imports into Australia, leading carriers to pull back on services.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargoPorts

NWSA auto imports up sharply amid new business from Hyundai, GM

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 21, 2023, 9:30 AM EDT

New and expanded auto imports landing at the Northwest Seaport Alliance come as carriers take advantage of its proximity to Asian ports during a time of scarce ro/ro tonnage.
Ro/ro cargoTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Antwerp-Bruges H1 volumes slide on weak demand, poor industrial outlook

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jul 18, 2023, 1:32 PM EDT

The fall hid some upbeat trends, with the number of refrigerated containers rising more than 10% in the first half and the rate of decline in overall volumes easing in the second quarter.
International portsContainer shippingContainer linesAsia-EuropeBreakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Global demand for high and heavy cargo drives secondary vessel ‘spillover’ market

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Jul 17, 2023, 5:07 PM EDT

Breakbulk ro/ro shippers are hunting for solutions as carriers deal with high vessel charter rates, tight capacity and port congestion.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

GPA’s Brunswick seeing significant growth in auto imports

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jul 17, 2023, 4:23 PM EDT

Brunswick’s growth comes amid rising automotive production, pent-up consumer demand and an easing of the semiconductor shortage that occurred during the pandemic.
Ro/ro cargoPortsNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Ro/ro carrier Sallaum aims to boost capacity with latest vessel order

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jun 20, 2023, 4:53 PM EDT

Persistent demand from existing customers and expected growth in global demand for heavier electric vehicles are spurring fresh investment in ro/ro newbuildings from Sallaum Lines.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

UPDATE: Doyle lands new post after resigning from top job at Maryland Port Administration

JOC Staff | Jun 20, 2023, 10:30 AM EDT

William Doyle’s departure after three years, announced to Maryland Port Administration employees Friday according to local news reports, came less than a week after he received three traffic citations.
North American portsContainer shippingRo/ro cargo

Ro/ro vessel capacity to remain tight with EV, heavy equipment growth: Wallenius CEO

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 13, 2023, 12:54 PM EDT

Rising auto and heavy equipment sales are keeping roll-on/roll-off vessels at maximum utilization, and the CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen warns the market will remain tight for years.
Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk shipping

Summer doldrums pressure MPV sector, but long-term view positive

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jun 12, 2023, 9:49 AM EDT

Sentiment is more positive in the longer term, with industry observers predicting a rebound in rates from 2024 onwards due to stronger cargo volumes and tight tonnage supply.
Breakbulk shippingBreakbulk carriersProject cargoRo/ro cargo

New FMC complaint challenges ‘unlawful’ stevedoring fees in Baltimore

Teri Errico Griffis | Jun 5, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT

Two stevedoring companies are looking to the Federal Maritime Commission to stop what they say is an unlawful access fee at the Port of Baltimore after one of them was invoiced $1.2 million.
Transport, trade and regulationRo/ro cargoPortsNorth American ports

deugro orders customized ro/ro newbuildings for wind turbine transport

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 24, 2023, 3:08 PM EDT

deugro and partners Siemens and Amasus will build and deploy two specialized offshore wind ro/ro vessels able to accommodate increasingly large wind turbine components.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Top US Shippers: Component shortages putting brakes on auto export growth

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 17, 2023, 9:51 AM EDT

Global vehicle manufacturers are still recovering from widespread semiconductor shortages, while domestic automakers and body shops face ongoing delays in components ranging from rear suspensions to front bumpers.
Supply ChainRo/ro cargoNorth American ports

CEVA Logistics shifts into vessel operations with ro-ro newbuildings

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 12, 2023, 3:33 PM EDT

Traditional 3PL provider CEVA plans to lease four new hybrid ro-ro vessels chartered by parent company CMA CGM.
MaritimeBreakbulk shippingBreakbulk carriersRo/ro cargo

Global car carriers see mixed outlook after stellar 2022

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Apr 4, 2023, 1:56 PM EDT

Vehicle demand is expected to offset declining high-and-heavy volumes in 2023, according to car carriers.
Breakbulk shippingBreakbulk carriersRo/ro cargo

Ro/ro executive Batista joins GPA as port gears up for expansion

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Jan 30, 2023, 3:22 PM EST

A long-time ro/ro executive with Wallenius Wilhelmsen will shift his focus to container BCOs in a new position with the Georgia Ports Authority.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Lack of space costing Zeebrugge new ro/ro clients: port

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jan 17, 2023, 10:25 AM EST

Zeebrugge’s ro/ro traffic rose 6.5 percent in 2022, even as congestion and tight capacity constrained potential growth.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Car carriers enjoying ‘exceptional conditions’: Clarksons

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor | Dec 16, 2022, 4:31 PM EST

Longer voyages, high demand, and tight capacity are boosting earnings and charter rates in the global car carrier segment.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Grimaldi Group orders up to 10 vessels to carry electric vehicles

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Oct 28, 2022, 10:30 AM EDT

The new ships ordered by the Grimaldi Group, designed for carrying electric vehicles, will burn 50 percent less fuel than earlier car carriers.
Ro/ro cargo

Ro/ro surge driving new investment by carriers

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Oct 5, 2022, 2:52 PM EDT

Recovering automobile exports and demand for high and heavy cargo are driving a ro/ro resurgence and a spate of new ship orders.
Ro/ro cargo

Georgia Ports Authority adds Nissan to OEM roster

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Oct 3, 2022, 11:07 AM EDT

US auto imports slid 8 percent during the first seven months of 2022, reflecting supply chain snarls, even as high and heavy imports gained steam.
Ro/ro cargo

Container shippers tapping ro/ro capacity amid tight vessel space

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 15, 2022, 4:27 PM EDT

Container ship capacity has become so scarce that cargoes are spilling over not only to breakbulk and multipurpose vessels, but to the roll-on/roll-off sector as well.
MaritimeBreakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

European short-sea ro/ro market undercut by Russian sanctions

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jun 2, 2022, 3:12 PM EDT

Demand for long-haul ro/ro services is strong, but COVID lockdowns and growing global economic uncertainties are constraining vehicle volumes, executives say.
Ro/ro cargo

Global car carrier fleet to expand, get greener

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 9, 2022, 3:50 PM EDT

The latest newbuild order from Japan’s MOL continues a flurry of vehicle carrier orders made in the last month that will result in a bigger — and greener fleet — global fleet.
Ro/ro cargo

GPA spending millions to beef up ro/ro, breakbulk capacity

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Mar 11, 2022, 4:52 PM EST

The Georgia Ports Authority plans to spend $150 million to create a “massive gateway port” for ro/ro and breakbulk cargo.
Ro/ro cargo

Rebounding vehicle production highlights looming landside labor shortages

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Feb 8, 2022, 6:00 AM EST

Auto makers and finished vehicle logistics (FVL) service providers say a dearth of car-haul drivers, dockworkers, and auto processing labor could hinder the tentative recovery in auto manufacturing.
Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Ro/ro volumes surge at NWSA as cargo shippers flee container chaos

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent | Feb 7, 2022, 11:05 AM EST

The Northwest Seaport Alliance saw record breakbulk tonnage in 2021 thanks to container congestion and booming demand for construction machinery.
Ro/ro cargo

Ro/ro carriers brace for auto surge amid capacity crunch

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Jan 28, 2022, 2:00 PM EST

Even a slight recovery in auto production means shippers should brace for the reality that already tight vessel capacity will become even scarcer, ro/ro carriers warn.
Ro/ro cargo

Global ro/ro carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen names new CEO

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Nov 29, 2021, 5:38 PM EST

Lasse Kristoffersen, former CEO of bulk operator Torvald Klaveness, will take the helm of Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

Wallenius Wilhelmsen posts record Q3 profit despite volume decline

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Nov 12, 2021, 8:00 AM EST

Elevated freight rates and strong high and heavy and breakbulk volumes boosted roll-on/roll-off carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s earnings even as vehicle volumes slide due to chip and parts shortages.
Ro/ro cargo

Höegh Autoliners orders eco-friendly Aurora-class car carriers

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Oct 4, 2021, 11:18 AM EDT

Oslo-based Höegh’s latest order for vehicle carriers comes amid growth in imports of China-made vehicles at European ports.
Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

Lack of visibility dampens long-term ro/ro outlook: UECC

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Sep 23, 2021, 1:26 PM EDT

While the ro/ro market booms thanks to high consumer demand and spillover container cargo, soaring vessel costs and an ongoing chip shortage add risk.
Ro/ro cargo

High and heavy cargoes push up European ro/ro volumes

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Sep 21, 2021, 9:50 AM EDT

Ro/ro carriers are adding capacity and ordering ships as Brexit snarls supply chains and complicates European labor shortages.
Ro/ro cargo

Chip shortage puts ro/ro volumes at risk

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift | Sep 16, 2021, 2:52 PM EDT

Car dealers are "screaming" for inventory, but COVID-19 shutdowns and a snarled semiconductor supply chain are throwing up obstacles to production.
Ro/ro cargo

Ro/ro volumes rising on machine tool demand, container ‘spillover’

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Aug 23, 2021, 6:36 PM EDT

Booming demand for machine tools and other breakbulk and high and heavy cargo boosted ro/ro carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s volumes during the second quarter.
Ro/ro cargo

MOL orders four LNG-fueled car carriers

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Aug 4, 2021, 3:32 PM EDT

MOL’s order for LNG-fueled car carriers shows that ro-ro newbuildings are stacking up as the sector pivots toward lower-carbon and next-generation fuels.
Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

Wallenius Lines inks deal for vehicle carrier newbuilds

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Jul 14, 2021, 2:31 PM EDT

The new ships will be capable of using liquefied natural gas, liquefied biogas, and synthetic diesel, with an option for battery power, according to Wallenius Marine.
Ro/ro cargo

Hoegh Autoliners orders green, project-friendly pure car and truck carriers

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis | Apr 27, 2021, 11:27 AM EDT

The first of a new, project-cargo and EV-friendly generation of green pure car and truck carriers is scheduled to arrive at Hoegh Autoliners by the end of 2023.
Ro/ro cargo