Roll On Roll Off Ships — Full Guide (2026)

A roll-on/roll-off ship is a specialised cargo vessel designed for wheeled cargo. The four main types — PCC, PCTC, LCT and ConRo — serve different trades and use different loading systems. This 2026 guide explains the technical differences, the major operators serving the UK, and how RoRo ships handle car cargo from booking to discharge. Understanding the vessel makes the rest of the shipping conversation clearer.

Pure Car Carriers are the most numerous RoRo vessels in service. They carry only finished passenger cars — no trucks, no high-and-heavy cargo. Modern PCCs have 12+ decks of fixed height (typically 1.8m clear), 6,500–8,000 car capacity, and internal hoistable decks to handle a small percentage of taller cargo. The Wallenius Wilhelmsen Tysla and Höegh Trapper are typical examples. PCC vessels dominate UK to USA and UK to Asia trades. See Wallenius Wilhelmsen for vessel specifications.

Pure Car and Truck Carriers have hoistable decks that adjust to 2.5–6.5m clear height, accommodating both cars and high-and-heavy cargo (mining trucks, agricultural tractors, mobile cranes). Capacity is rated in 'car equivalent units' (CEU) of around 6,000. PCTCs dominate UK to Australia, Middle East and Africa routes where mixed cargo loads are common. See our RoRo service for vessel options on each route.

LCT (Landing Craft Tank) vessels with bow ramps serve short-sea trades like UK to Ireland (Belfast-Liverpool). ConRo (Container plus RoRo) vessels combine a container deck below with a RoRo car deck above, common on Atlantic Container Line's UK-USA service. These niche vessel types account for around 8% of UK car export volume but are critical for specific trades — particularly anyone shipping a mix of cars and palletised goods.

Six operators dominate UK RoRo trade: Wallenius Wilhelmsen (largest fleet globally, USA and Asia routes), Höegh Autoliners (USA, Middle East), Grimaldi Lines (Africa, South America), K-Line (Asia, Pacific), MOL (Asia, Australia), and NYK Line (global). Plus regional specialists like Atlantic Container Line (UK-USA), CLdN Cobelfret (UK-EU short-sea), and Sallaum Lines (USA-West Africa). Each carrier has a publicly searchable vessel schedule at their website.

UK port operations follow a standard pattern. Vehicles arrive at the bonded yard 24–48 hours before vessel arrival. On vessel-day, stevedore drivers in high-vis jackets drive each car onto the assigned deck via the stern ramp. Cars are chocked (wedged at the wheels), lashed (tied to the deck with ratchet straps at four points), and a damage sheet is signed. Loading 6,500 cars takes 18–24 hours. The vessel sails on a fixed schedule regardless of full capacity. Contact us for vessel-specific booking advice.

Roll-on/roll-off ships are precision-engineered floating car parks operated to airline-grade schedules. Understanding the vessel type (PCC, PCTC, LCT, ConRo) and the operator's specialism on your route gives you the right baseline for booking decisions — and helps explain why a UK-to-Australia quote differs from UK-to-USA when both look like 'RoRo' on the surface. The four operators worth knowing are Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Höegh Autoliners, Grimaldi Lines and Atlantic Container Line.

Ready to book RoRo from the UK? Fixed 2026 prices in 60 seconds — request a quote or WhatsApp +44 (0)1495 320540.