roll-on/roll-off

Method of loading and unloading cargo ships. Lorries drive straight on board a specially designed vessel and then drive off at the ship's destination without unloading their cargo. This saves time and money, although valuable cargo space is taken up by the lorries and special port facilities are needed. Ro-ro is best suited to shorter journeys where handling costs are proportionately higher. Cross-Channel traffic between the UK and France and Belgium is an example.

The Estonia disaster October 1994, in which 900 people died, intensified demands that all ro-ro ferries be fitted with watertight bulkheads on their car decks, so that they would continue to float for a period if damaged.