Report on Ro- Ro ships

            These types of ships that are involved in carrying different cars, trains and other heavy objects from one part to another part. This is basically the acronym for roll on/ roll off. This is like the self-propelled modular transporter. This is not like to Lo-Lo vessels in which cranes are used to lift up the objects. In Ro-Ro there are built in ramps on which the cars and train rolled into the ship in proper way. These ships moved in big oceans. In this ship the ramps and doors are located in stern or at side of the ship. Through these ships it is quite easy to move the vehicle and also it become too much easy for loading and unloading the objects.

Types of ships of Ro- Ro ships

There are different types of Ro-Ro ships that were invented according to the demand of the user. All of these types are discussed below

Pure care Carrier and pure car and truck carriers of Ro- Ro ships

        The types of Ro-Ro ships are involved in carrying and handling the cars and trucks only. The PCC only involve in transferring the cars. On the other side the PCTC Ro-Ro ships are only involved in transferring the cars and trucks. As shown in the figure 1, the pure car and the truck carriers looks like a;

Container vessel+ Ro-Ro ships

        In this type the Ro-Ro vessel is combine with the container and this type of ship is also called ConRo. In this type the load on both of these parts are equally divided. They can carry load upto 20000 to 50000 tons.

Cargo+ Ro-Ro ships

        This is like the normal cargo ship that is involved in carrying different heavy machines like cranes and airplane parts. This type of ship also named as GenRo. This type of ship is quite smaller than other Ro-Ro ships. This type of ship only capable of carrying the load that is around 2000 to 30000 tons.

Ro-Pax of Ro- Ro ships

        This type of Ro-Ro ships carry cars in their ships that is also provided for voyagers. This ship mainly used for the technical terms and they are also called ferries.

Complete Ro-Ro ships

        This is that type of ship that carries cars. This type of car carrier is constructed with inclines on the inside and also on the outside. These type of ships don’t have any hatchways and they are used in huge seas. They have the ability to load the dead objects that is between 2000 to 400000 tons (Mitchell)

Main areas of operation of Ro- Ro ships

        The main operation of Ro-Ro ships are in the oceans. These type of ships mainly used in huge oceans. These ship are extremely bigger than that of ferries. In each Ro-Ro ship, three ferries can be placed easily. Through this ship different dead loads can be moved easily without any difficulty.

        In the past such ships were used as war machines in the world war two by the Germany. Then after some time they are used for the transport. At that time the size of the ships were too much small like the ferries. In these ships the tanks and other heavy objects were extremely difficult to move. With the passage of time some modification was done in these ships and upgrade with the passage of time. These ships were become bigger and heavier. Now these ships are used to carry tanks, car, airplanes, trains, cranes and other heavy object from oceans to oceans. These ships are used majorly for moving cars, trucks and containers from one oceans to another ocean. For small rivers transportation ferries are used that are involved in carrying small loads. These ships are also involved in moving the military objects from one continent to another continent (Chan, Ngai and Moon)

Major owner/ characters of Ro- Ro ships

        These ships are quite rare around the world because of their size and loading capacity. From the data of world there are too much low owner of these ship from them one of the most important owner of this ship is MV Celine is one of the largest owner of these Ro-Ro ships that are located in Dublin port. This has the capacity of around 8000 lane meters and also named as super ferry. This company is involved operating 25 Ro-Ro ships and they also allow weekly sailing option from one port to another port. This franchise was involved in this business from 2003 and now they are become one of the largest owner of these ships in the world (Branch)

Type of charter parties used- voyage time and bareboat of Ro- Ro ships

        This is basically a charter party in which the owner of ship only agrees to ship the complete shipload in the form of cargo from one place to another by some other ship owner. For this case the crew must be master in navigation system and also in control system.

Charter party that used voyage time of Ro- Ro ships

        The charter party for this Ro-Ro ships is quite rare, the reason is that the owner of such ships are quite rare. For that case the contract between the ship-owner and the carter is rare. For such ships ROPAXTIME is used that is basically the standard time used for the Ro-Ro ships. For that time the charter party has to sign the contract with the ship-owner. In that contract there is proper points must be mentioned for using these ships in proper way. The problem is that the latest edition of this contract is issued in 2015 and in that contract there are too much low points for the charter of this ship (Shama).

Charter party bareboat of Ro- Ro ships

        For the bareboat charter of the Ro-Ro ships. It can be seen that Stena Ro-Ro is the main ship supplier for the Balearia that is involved in chartering and sale. The type of charter are involved in transferring both passenger and freight vessels that can be used for different type of operations. The ship owner of the Ro-Ro ships are collaborating with the Balearia for the next years. This agreement will be a long-lasting relationship with the owner for mutual benefits (Vassalos, Hamamoto and Molyneux).

State of the freight market of Ro- Ro ships

        Ship-owners, charterers as well as brokers these are the part of freight market. For an agreed price per ton ship-owners contract to carry cargo while for a certain period charter market hires out ships. In a charter party a charter is legally agreed upon in which the freight market deals with clearly set. Five freight ferry routes operate by Ro-Ro as well as connecting turkey with Toulon as well as Trieste. In Istanbul Ro-Ro has 12 modern ferries as well as its own terminal port. As we talk about other Europe markets the U.N. Ro-Ro provide solution of intermodal. It acquires U.N. DFDS says, in a company announcement in the Mediterranean the Turkish operate of freight shipping routes, Ro-Ro, with Italy and France Turkey is connected. A geographic expansion means the DFDS route network.

        From owners of DFDS is acquire 98.8 percent, the equity firms of Turkish private like Esas holdings as well as Actera group. EUR 950 million is the enterprise value and U.N. Ro-Ro is highly profitable. To facilitate international trade the shipping industry gas been developed through connecting supply sources as well as for commodities demand such as manufactured goods, raw materials, as well as finished products and passengers transportation, livestock and even cars, among countries and ports. Ro-Ro is one of the most attractive Europe freight markets which are almost similar to the northern Europe. With the existing strong management team this gives us opportunity together to leverage our fleet network, to develop the business skills and experience although also support the Ro-Ro customers.

Are the ship-owners making a profit or loss?

        As we look into the previous record of the ro-ro cargo lifts Logistics’ profit or loss. From its 2013 result the figure was up 136%. Ro-ro handling division delivered a profit of EUR 9.7 million as well as finished vehicle to the group’s result of consolidated, due to an impairment after a EUR 12.4 million loss on its facilities in the previous year in Ukraine. In high and heavy equipment shipments recovery, as well as for technical value adding services increased the demand in its vehicle terminal, this is the Bremen based group.

        In Bremerhaven, the number of vehicle lifting rose last year by 5% to 2.3 million. With declining demand the year after 2014 have been brutal, historically low charter rates, and overcapacity as well as plummeting values of asset. In both markets most owners are exposed as well as accordingly suffering from losses. To reduce land borne vehicle traffic in spite of continued efforts could potentially support the increasing demand of ro-ro. Rather expensive trailer units the ro-ro market is to some area disadvantages such as costs of maintenance and high capital along with dues of ports also have competition with the other sort of transport. As this are the cheaper alternative remains the risk of either a loss of cargo to operate the container.

Future forecast of supply and demand of Ro- Ro ships

        As we have to talk about the potential forecast demand and supply of the ro-ro shipping company. From wide ranging geopolitical the uncertainty arising that is on the demand side, as well as trade risk of policy and some structural intervals, on maritime trade have a negative impact. Inward looking policies as well as rising sentiment of protectionist are the immediate concerns which could undermine the economic growth, growth of restrict trade as well as patterns of shifting trade. Against a background the warning come enhance the balance among supply as well as demand which shipping rate has lifted to boost the profits and earnings.

        Low transport cost of shipping compared to other means of transport is reason that about 90% of global goods transport is through sea. Improvement in the logistic chain as well as in the port infrastructure for the new generation of energy is produced for the energy efficient vessels which is benefits for the Seaborne trade and to maintain the leadership in the international freight transport. However the Downturn of 2009, when it slumped by 4%, world seaborne trade has grown by 38%. Crude oil and oil products account for 27% of the total, dry bulk for 44% and containers for 16% (Danskemaritime).

        In 2018 it is expected that the dry bulk segment of shipping in the container improve the supply demand expected to continue. Accordingly, the freight rate might give benefits. In total volume of 3.8 % up to 2023 UNCTAD projects an average growth rate annually. After the five years of decelerating growth on the supply side, in the world fleet expansion 2017 saw a small pick-up. A total of 42 million gross tons during this year were added to worldwide tonnage, 3.3 percent growth rate equivalent to a modest.

Any other information that may be of interest to ship-owners

        In worldwide container transport volume current forecasts predict continued. In Asia the comparatively strong growth currently as well as a business location has also shifted increasing its importance.  In china a core driver of intra-Asian trade in consumption and living standards are high as well as Asian states the south east. By 2020 Singapore’s container in size its port is doubled. On cost reductions this development is shipping companies forcing liner focus as well as inefficient ships dispose. All vessel classes although across new build commission for the coming years filled the order books established the ship yards as well as by around a third over the last two years global ship building the capacity has fallen, in ship building capacity still persists an overall surplus. For a sustainable development capacity is currently approximately twice that is required in line.

Conclusion of Ro- Ro ships

            Summing up all the discussion from above it is concluded that the Ro-Ro ships are used for transferring heavy ships and loads from oceans to oceans. This is not like to Lo-Lo vessels in which cranes are used to lift up the objects. In Ro-Ro there are built in ramps on which the cars and train rolled into the ship in proper way. The types of Ro-Ro ships are involved in carrying and handling the cars and trucks only. This is like the normal cargo ship that is involved in carrying different heavy machines like cranes and airplane parts. This type of ship also named as GenRo. The main operation of Ro-Ro ships are in the oceans. These type of ships mainly used in huge oceans. These ship are extremely bigger than that of ferries.

References of Ro- Ro ships

Branch, Alan. Elements of Port Operation and Management. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012.

Chan, Alan T.L., Eric W.T. Ngai and Karen K.L. Moon. "The Effects of Strategic and Manufacturing Flexibilities and Supply Chain Agility on Firm." European Journal of Operational Research (2016): 1-35.

Danskemaritime. 2018 Market Forecast Report. 2018. <https://danskemaritime.dk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2018-Market-Forecast-Report.pdf>.

Mitchell, Barry. By Ro-Ro To The Baltic. Lulu.com, 2018.

Shama, Mohamed. Buckling of Ship Structures. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012.

Vassalos, D., et al. . Elsevier, 2000.