How cars, trucks, machinery and rolling cargo move by sea — RoRo vs CON-RO and containers, lane-metre measurement, booking and documentation, with UAE context.
How cars, trucks, machinery and rolling cargo move by sea —RoRo vs CON-RO and containers, lane-metre measurement,booking and documentation, with UAE context.
Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) is an ocean transport method where wheeled cargo is driven directly on and off a specialised vessel via built-in ramps, instead of being lifted by crane. It is the backbone of global ocean freight for vehicles and rolling equipment, moving everything from private cars to construction machinery and project units.
Because the cargo rolls aboard under its own power (or is towed on a roll-trailer), RoRo avoids the lifting risk and time of crane handling. This makes it fast to load, gentle on the cargo, and cost-effective for high volumes of standardised units like sedans, vans, trucks and trailers.
Typical RoRo cargo
—Standard vehicles — cars, SUVs, vans and pickups, the highest-volume segment.
—High & heavy — buses, trucks, agricultural and construction machinery (excavators, loaders, cranes).
—Static / non-running units — placed on a MAFI roll-trailer and towed aboard.
—Project & breakbulk — boats, generators and oversized units that fit the deck height.
RoRo vs CON-RO vs containers
You have three broad ways to move a vehicle by sea, and the right choice depends on value, volume and route.
Pure RoRo — the vehicle is driven aboard and lashed to the deck. Cheapest per unit for running cars on busy trade lanes; the cargo is exposed to the open deck environment.
—CON-RO — a hybrid vessel carrying both containers and rolling cargo, common on routes where volumes alone don't justify a pure car carrier.
—Container (in a box) — a car is strapped and braced inside a 20ft or 40ft container. This protects high-value or classic vehicles and lets you ship to ports without RoRo terminals. Compare the trade-offs in our FCL vs LCL guide .
For oversized machinery that exceeds RoRo deck clearance, the cargo may instead move as out-of-gauge breakbulk — see our project cargo and OOG breakbulk guide .
How RoRo is measured and priced: lane metres
Container freight is priced by the box; RoRo is priced by the lane metre (LIM) — the deck space a unit occupies, calculated as length × the lane width of 2 metres. A 4.5 m car occupies roughly 4.5 lane metres; a long trailer occupies far more.
—Length drives the lane-metre count — always declare it accurately, including roof racks, towbars and protruding loads.
—Height & weight trigger "high & heavy" surcharges and decide which deck the unit can occupy.
—Running vs static — non-running units need a MAFI trailer plus towing labour, adding cost.
Always quote real measured dimensions. The Incoterm you agree also shifts who pays terminal and inland costs — review our Incoterms 2020 explainer before fixing a price.
Booking and documentation
RoRo paperwork is vehicle-specific and stricter than general cargo. Prepare these before the cut-off:
—Commercial invoice & packing list with VIN/chassis numbers for every unit.
—Title or ownership document — original or certified copy, often required at both origin and destination customs.
—Bill of Lading — the carrier issues an MBL and your forwarder an HBL; learn the difference in our bill of lading guide .
—Export declaration & condition report noting existing dents or scratches at gate-in.
Fuel should be at a quarter tank or less, no loose items inside the cabin, and the alarm disabled. Ready to move a unit? You can post your shipment on Geomarine and receive competing RoRo and container quotes from vetted forwarders.
UAE context
The UAE is a global RoRo and used-vehicle re-export hub. Jebel Ali handles deep-sea RoRo volumes, while Mina Zayed in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah's terminals serve regional and East-African trades. Thousands of vehicles transit Dubai every month for re-export to Africa, the GCC and Central Asia.
Key UAE points to plan for: a valid Emirates VCC (Vehicle Clearance Certificate) is usually needed to export a registered car; GCC-bound units must meet destination specification rules; and many forwarders bundle the short road freightleg from showroom or yard to the RoRo terminal. For high-value or classic cars leaving the UAE, arrange marine cover early — see our cargo insurance basics .
Key takeaways
—RoRo drives cargo aboard via ramps — fast, gentle and cheap for running vehicles.
—Choose RoRo, CON-RO or container by cargo value, volume and destination port.
—Pricing is by lane metre (length × 2 m), so declare dimensions honestly.
—VIN-level documents, title and a clean condition report are mandatory.
—The UAE — led by Jebel Ali — is a major RoRo re-export gateway.
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