# Vehicle carrier

> A multi-deck ro-ro cargo ship designed to transport empty cars and trucks.

## Record

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

## Article

A **vehicle carrier** is a multi-deck [ro-ro ship](/en/ship-types/ro-ro-ship/) designed to carry empty cars and trucks. Vehicles are driven or towed into the ship and secured on cargo decks, allowing large numbers to be handled efficiently.

The empty-vehicle role and multi-deck design make “vehicle carrier” narrower than the general ro-ro category, which may cover other wheeled cargo arrangements.

[Further reading: IMO ship types and carbon intensity](https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/hottopics/pages/eexi-cii-faq.aspx).