RO-RO AND ROPAX SHIPS
ENABLING GLOBAL MOBILITY
Roll-on/roll-of (ro-ro) cargo and passenger ships (ropax) underpin the global transportation of cars, trucks, trailers, railroad cars and more. The global fleet is expected to continue growing in the coming years, thanks to strong demand, particularly in China and Europe.
These vessels pose unique safety challenges, including strength issues, transverse stresses and vibrations. Expert analysis can reduce these risks for enhanced safety and comfort.
A FLEET FOR EVERY VEHICLE
Ro-ro vessels are flexible and can transport cargo in many ways: containers, trailers or loose cargo on pallets placed on roll trailers. In addition, cars can be transported on board and do not necessarily need to be parked closely together. Adjustable moving decks mean the deck height on these vessels can be adapted to the size of the vehicle cargo.
There are several kinds of ro-ro vessels:
Pure car carriers (PCCs) | Pure truck & car carriers (PTCCs) | RoPax |
Pure car carriers (PCCs) are used exclusively for transporting cars. PCCs have multiple decks and ramps to reduce port turnaround time. The cars are driven on and off the vessel, allowing for a maximum number of vehicles to be loaded. | These vessels resemble PCCs but are used to transport heavier vehicles such as trucks, alongside cars and other light vehicles. | RoPax vessels are ro-ro ships that also carry passengers. These vessels can be predominantly passenger vessels or ro-ro vessels, with varying ratios. |
YOUR RO-RO CHALLENGES
Ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessels require significant space in ports, particularly when the trailers or other cargo are assembled prior to loading. Trailers cannot be stacked like containers, so several kilometers of storage lanes are needed in port areas to facilitate ro-ro operations. However, since ro-ro vessels are generally equipped with their own loading and offloading ramps, many existing ports and harbor facilities can be adapted for ro-ro use without significant cost expenditures.
On the technical side, ro-ro vessels are relatively heavy, owing to the significant weight of their loads. This means that their fuel consumption is generally higher than other types of cargo ships, making them more expensive to operate. As a result, owners seek to enhance energy efficiency to improve fuel consumption and performance.
The non-standardized designs of ro-ro vessels can impact their safety and stability. They can cause unique safety risks like strength issues and transverse stresses from racking. Vibration is another concern that also affects comfort. In addition, ro-ro vessels have large and often open vehicle decks, which pose challenges for structural stability. These decks necessitate a particularly high level of planning for the welding process during the ship’s construction. Additional structural risks related to ro-ro vessels’ specific, often atypical cargo can also occur.
Fire safety is a key challenge aboard ro-ro's, particularly on vehicle decks. On open decks, the unlimited supply of oxygen feeds fires, making them especially difficult to extinguish.
PUTTING SAFETY FIRST
Bureau Veritas works to ensure the safety of your ro-ro vessel across its lifecycle. We can analyze your ro-ro design, perform direct calculations and apply the loads to a complete Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model. We consider all factors, including cargo loads and meteorological data for the routes the vessel will travel. Our goal is to maximally reduce risk, remove uncertainties and optimize cargo arrangement. We also help improve passenger comfort for ropax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) vessels.
OUR RO-RO AND RO-PAX OFFER
Bureau Veritas works to address the risks of non-standardized designs of ro-ro and ropax ships while meeting owner requirements.
DIRECT STRENGTH ANALYSIS
Bureau Veritas’ approach to strength analysis goes beyond IACS’ unified requirement for longitudinal strength. We use our Hydrostar seakeeping analysis tool to perform direct calculations to verify design wave and shear force distributions. We model real conditions, without relying on hypotheses, to remove any uncertainty.
OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE WITH A COMPLETE FEA MODEL
Our calculations are applied to a complete FEA model (called VeriSTAR Hull). Every part of the vessel can be accurately reviewed for yielding and buckling. We also take oblique seas into account. The model enables optimization of scantlings to improve structural strength. It also calculates resonance, making it possible to analyze global vibration.
SUPPORTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES
In 2025, we published the additional class notation EVFP (Enhanced Fire Protection for Ships carrying Electrical Vehicles). Complying with this notation enables shipowners and operators to ensure maximum safety when transporting electric vehicles on board ro-ro vessels. Requirements predominantly cover fire risk assessments and safety plans for battery fires.
CARGO LOAD ASSESSMENT EXPERTISE
Ro-ro vessels carry atypical cargo such as vehicles or industrial equipment. Bureau Veritas assesses cargo arrangement at the design stage, analyzing point loads on deck and proposing optimizations.
EXPERIENCE ACROSS ALL TYPES OF RO-RO VESSELS
Bureau Veritas’ classed fleet includes a wide range of ro-ro cargo ships and ropax vessels. Notable examples include a ro-ro cargo ship used to carry Airbus 380 parts, dual-fuel (LNG and diesel) vessels featuring battery power and a dual-fuel luxury ro-ro ferry.
LNG FUEL EXPERTISE
LNG is an increasingly attractive fuel choice for ro-ro ships operating in Emission Control Areas. Several cargo and passenger vessels in the Bureau Veritas-classed fleet or under construction follow our dedicated Rules for using gas as a fuel.
ADDRESSING CYBERSECURITY
Technological advancements like intelligent data and connected equipment present new challenges for shipping. Chemical tanker managers and owners must now protect their fleets from cyberattacks. Attacks are growing in number and sophistication, making cybersecurity a priority for shipping industry stakeholders.
Bureau Veritas knows that cybersecurity is essential to safety management in shipping and offshore operations. This is why we provide best-in-class cybersecurity services built on our deep knowledge of industrial control systems, smart ships, networks and telecommunications. We provide:
- A global network of cybersecurity experts to secure ship designs and run efficient testing
- Cyber compliance, detailed notations and practical guidelines for ships in service and newbuilds
- Industry-leading regulation compliance for BIMCO, Flag administration, IMO, IACS, OCIMF and more
