5 ways RoRo cuts costs and reduces risk for breakbulk shipments

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of RoRo is the minimal lifting involved. Breakbulk products are securely lashed to specialised handling equipment at the terminal prior to vessel arrival and simply rolled onboard, limiting the need for handling of the cargo itself and reducing the risk of damage.

All cargo operations are taken care of long before the vessel is in the port. Our large fleet of handling equipment and technical expertise means we can handle all kinds of breakbulk safely and efficiently. Our team of breakbulk specialists can also design customised solutions for the most oversized or delicate products, which can be rolled into a warehouse to offer protection prior to loading.

The characteristics of a RoRo vessel ensures underdeck stowage of your cargo at all times – a guarantee no other mode of ocean transportation can give.

While minimal lifting operations means loading isn’t impacted by poor weather, out on the open ocean, products are also well protected from variable conditions thanks to advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology, which ensures the temperature and humidity of the interior decks of a RoRo vessel are kept constant for the duration of the voyage.

Once loaded onto the appropriate vessel deck, the product stays securely lashed on the handling equipment for the entire sea journey. The combination of direct lashing to the handling equipment and the deck creates a stable and solid footprint for even the most awkward-shaped breakbulk. This means even complex products cope well with the tilting resulting from any ocean swells.

Cost control and transparency are arguably more important to the success of a project than trying to reduce costs wherever you can. Our RoRo liner service’s reliable schedule, timetabled months in advance, allows for better planning and supports supply chain predictability, which in turn keeps costs low. The RoRo liner service offered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW Ocean and EUKOR) helps customers to better manage project finances, therefore avoiding unexpected costs.

As a liner carrier, we are usually granted prioritised berthing to ensure a reliable and predictably schedule for our customers and terminals. On the occasion when delays in getting access to a port do occur, typically we will not pass on port detention charges to customers.

Fixed departure dates mean there is less need for port warehousing, and no need to wait to consolidate cargo onto one ship, providing more flexibility.

Missed departures due to unforeseen events in the supply chain can be dealt with by simply taking the next scheduled RoRo vessel. With RoRo, you ship your breakbulk “as is” and when it’s ready, with no need for any additional dismantling costs or associated reassembly costs at destination.

Through the use of partner shipping networks, transshipment to ports beyond a RoRo liner service’s regular port calls provides access to even more destinations around the world, helping customers to meet demand in their key markets.

The risk of damage is also reduced during transshipment. While awaiting transfer, your products remain lashed to their handling equipment and can be stored in warehouses if required. Your products can even remain on the handling equipment when connecting to some of our partner carriers.