Auto Transportation
If you are looking into overseas auto transportation, you have probably seen the term RO/RO. This refers to Roll-on/Roll-off types of ships which are used to transport large cars, yachts, trailers and other wheeled items.
Overseas auto transportation is not always a cheap option, especially if additional insurance is needed for your vehicle. However, depending on the location to where you are going, it can often be more economical to pay for RO/RO auto transport services than to buy a new vehicle at the destination. Not to mention, it can be a much bigger convenience to have your own vehicle shipped to you with overseas auto transportation services than shopping for a new one in your destination.
Many collectors of custom cars also frequently use RO/RO auto transport services because they are the only option when getting a car from an overseas destination.
Compared to the standard overseas shipping industry where cargo is measured by metric tons, RO/RO ship cargo is measured by the number of lanes in meters (LIM). Because of this method, it is usually cheaper to use RO/RO auto transportation than another type of overseas shipping.
The largest passenger RO/RO auto transport vessel is called the MS Color Magic. She is a cruise ferry that is a total of 75,100 GT. It was built in Finland in 2007 and can hold 550 cars as well as additional cargo. However, there are smaller passenger ferries which can hold even more cars. The Irish ferry called Ulysses is has the current record for being able to carry the most cars. At 50,938 GT, the Ulysses is capable of auto transportation for 1,342 cars as well as additional cargo.
Even though RO/RO transport has been around for a while, it wasn’t until the 1970s that it really expanded. That is when the demand for car imports/exports increased. While many of the RO/RO ships are meant for large industries, there are many which will facilitate auto transportation for individuals.
When looking for an overseas auto transport provider, you will probably need to contact a third-party which will do all of the organizing for you. The auto transportation company will come and pick up your car in the United States. From there, the transportation service will take the vehicle to the shipping yard and ensure that it is properly loaded onto the vessel.
It is possible to find overseas auto transportation companies which offer door-to-door services. However, these services are usually very expensive. Instead, it is generally a better choice to get door-to-port services. That means you, or a designated party, will be responsible for claiming the vehicle when it arrives at the port or port-storage facility.
When looking for overseas auto transportation services, look for companies which have good local services. Then find out which type of RO/RO vessel they use for overseas shipping. If you are planning on shipping larger numbers of vehicles overseas, you may also want to find auto transportation services which offer discount rates for volume.
