# Ro-ro ship

> A cargo ship designed for vehicles and other wheeled units to roll on and off through ramps.

## Record

- Record type: Encyclopedia entry
- Canonical page: https://admiralsatlas.com/en/ship-types/ro-ro-ship/
- Last updated: 2026-09-22

## Article

A **ro-ro ship** carries cargo that can be rolled aboard and ashore, typically through a ramp. Trucks, trailers, and other wheeled units can move between the quay and cargo decks without the lifting used for conventional break-bulk cargo.

“Ro-ro” describes the cargo-handling method. A [vehicle carrier](/en/ship-types/vehicle-carrier/) is a more specific ship type for empty cars and trucks, while a [ro-pax ship](/en/ship-types/ro-pax-ship/) combines ro-ro space with passenger transport.

[Further reading: IMO ro-ro ship safety](https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/safety/pages/ro-roferries.aspx).