Roll on Roll off (RORO) vessels are purpose built for the shipment of driving/wheeled cargo and offer an efficient and cost effective way to ship your vehicle around the world. Larger RORO vessels are now able to load around 8000 vehicles and with the scale of vehicle movements at each port of call it is essential your vehicle is correctly prepared for shipment.
To assist your planning we have prepared a summary of the basic steps to take when preparing your vehicle ready for shipping.
Vehicle condition – the vehicle should be fully running, driving and steering with operational footbrake and handbrake. Vehicle reliability and safety and key, non runners or inoperable vehicles will likely not be loaded. On some routes there are provisions for vehicles to be towed on and off but this is at the discretion of the shipping line. Tyres should be inflated to the correct pressure, no vehicle damage and no oil or fluid leaks.
Fuel – the vehicle should contain 1/4 tank of fuel when it is delivered to the port of departure.
Alarm systems – must be disconnected
Vehicle cleanliness – the shipment of unclean vehicles causes major environmental risks with shipping lines or port of destination refusing acceptance of the shipment if standards are not met. The shipment of used agricultural machinery is risked even higher with an SPS or equivalent document often required. Some overseas destinations including Australia have their own mandatory Quarantine and cleanliness processes irrespective of how clean the vehicle is presented.
Personal effects – no personal effects or private property should be loaded within the vehicle. Standard items such as vehicle tool kits and spare wheels are permitted but must be secure. There are exceptions on most routes for items contained within a motorhome or travel trailer for personal use such as clothing, kitchen/bathroom equipment, and small motorcycles that are correctly mounted and secured. This does vary by the shipping line and route; for these bookings please contact us with your requirements so that we can check for the latest additional cargo policy.
We hope this gives you insight into preparing your vehicle for shipment, please get in touch with any further questions regarding this vehicle shipping in general.
