Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?

Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?

Photo source: SCH

The bulk of RoRo shipments have traditionally focused on cars and heavier wheeled plant but those staples are now being augmented by a growing trend for out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo.

Shippers are finding that RoRo vessels offer a competitive alternative when it comes to loading a wheeled trailer with all manner of breakbulk cargoes, notes Mark Living, senior operations manager at the stevedoring specialist, Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH).

“It is a trend that we have seen develop over the past couple of years and now appears to be on the increase, whatever the global destination from the UK and Europe,” Living says. Wide open decks on RoRo ships lend themselves to carrying high, wide and heavy loads, with ports ideal locations for transferring cargoes from road to trailer.

With access to high capacity mobile or quayside craneage, port facilities have always been popular as a site for cargo transfer.

Allied to a wide range of craneage is the expertise available in ports to carry out careful cargo loading and securing operations before shipments are placed and stowed on board. Such cargoes are often high value, bringing into focus the need for stevedoring skills and experience.

With global consumer demand for new vehicles dropping during the pandemic, the attraction of using deck space for these out-of-gauge shipments has increased. However, growth in these operations brings challenges, notably the requirement for port space to transfer loads and store them prior to loading.

Living poses a question whether this is the trend a passing phase or have we seen the rise of a new alternative for shippers? “As RoRo ships get bigger – Höegh has its new Aurora Class of PCTCs with a capacity of 9,100 CEUs under construction – the pursuit of more diverse cargo is highly likely,” Living says.

Shipments such as offshore equipment, construction plant, large manufacturing units and power plant are project cargoes that no longer need dedicated vessels with on-board craneage. RoRo ships, with ramps that can accommodate bigger cargo weight capacity, now have all the facilities needed to provide a competitive alternative.

With liner routes providing an extensive network of port destinations, higher and heavier RoRo loads are set to become an even more regular feature.

Author: Adnan Bajic

1 comment op “Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?”

Michael Dipenta|21.04.22|21:02

This is indeed a trend that has been expanding of quite some time. The final piece to this puzzle is the inland delivery from ports of discharge. As the volume and complexity of the cargo has grown, expertise to connect to inland locations has gravitated to the regular ports of call for these vessels. Maritime World Logistics at the Port of Halifax is one such company. Halifax has the largest rail clearance window of any salt water port in east coast of N.A.

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Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative? | Project Cargo Journal
Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?

Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?

Photo source: SCH

The bulk of RoRo shipments have traditionally focused on cars and heavier wheeled plant but those staples are now being augmented by a growing trend for out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo.

Shippers are finding that RoRo vessels offer a competitive alternative when it comes to loading a wheeled trailer with all manner of breakbulk cargoes, notes Mark Living, senior operations manager at the stevedoring specialist, Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH).

“It is a trend that we have seen develop over the past couple of years and now appears to be on the increase, whatever the global destination from the UK and Europe,” Living says. Wide open decks on RoRo ships lend themselves to carrying high, wide and heavy loads, with ports ideal locations for transferring cargoes from road to trailer.

With access to high capacity mobile or quayside craneage, port facilities have always been popular as a site for cargo transfer.

Allied to a wide range of craneage is the expertise available in ports to carry out careful cargo loading and securing operations before shipments are placed and stowed on board. Such cargoes are often high value, bringing into focus the need for stevedoring skills and experience.

With global consumer demand for new vehicles dropping during the pandemic, the attraction of using deck space for these out-of-gauge shipments has increased. However, growth in these operations brings challenges, notably the requirement for port space to transfer loads and store them prior to loading.

Living poses a question whether this is the trend a passing phase or have we seen the rise of a new alternative for shippers? “As RoRo ships get bigger – Höegh has its new Aurora Class of PCTCs with a capacity of 9,100 CEUs under construction – the pursuit of more diverse cargo is highly likely,” Living says.

Shipments such as offshore equipment, construction plant, large manufacturing units and power plant are project cargoes that no longer need dedicated vessels with on-board craneage. RoRo ships, with ramps that can accommodate bigger cargo weight capacity, now have all the facilities needed to provide a competitive alternative.

With liner routes providing an extensive network of port destinations, higher and heavier RoRo loads are set to become an even more regular feature.

Author: Adnan Bajic

1 comment op “Rise of OOG cargo on RoRo vessels, a passing phase or a new alternative?”

Michael Dipenta|21.04.22|21:02

This is indeed a trend that has been expanding of quite some time. The final piece to this puzzle is the inland delivery from ports of discharge. As the volume and complexity of the cargo has grown, expertise to connect to inland locations has gravitated to the regular ports of call for these vessels. Maritime World Logistics at the Port of Halifax is one such company. Halifax has the largest rail clearance window of any salt water port in east coast of N.A.

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Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.