Lolo roro in shipping

Lolo roro, otherwise written as LOLO RORO and lo/lo ro/ro, refers to two different methods of loading and unloading goods from vessels. In this article, we'll explain the difference between them and which may be best suited to your shipping needs.

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Lolo roro: What are they?

Lolo

Lolo stands for lift-on lift-off. This is a vertical loading method for containers that works most commonly with the use of cranes, either fixed onboard the ship or at the dockside. Ships with fixed cranes are often referred to as geared vessels.

Alternatively, special cargo handling equipment such as derricks and cargo winches can also be used for lolo.

Roro

Roro stands for roll-on roll-off. In contrast to lolo roro is a horizontal loading method that involves rolling wheeled cargo on and off the vessel using ramps and a vehicle platform. These ramps are often built into the vessel and they allow vehicles to easily access the deck to bring the goods aboard.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lolo roro?

Lolo roro each offer distinct benefits and drawbacks.

Roro is the older of the two methods, dating back centuries, as it is not technically sophisticated. Nonetheless, it is incredibly efficient at loading bulky and awkward cargo efficiently.

Not only is it faster than lolo roro is less risky as there is less chance of damage to cargo during the loading and unloading process. However, it is important to ensure that roro cargo is securely fixed in place once on board.

Lolo might take longer but it is more sustainable due to the limited use of motor vehicles. As well as this, lolo vessels tend to have a much higher load capacity and are less expensive to run, especially if they are integrated with rail transport.

Lolo roro variations

Lolo roro are the two main loading methods in shipping but there are multiple variations of these, largely due to advancements in roro technology.

Pure car carrier (PCC) roro

PCC only transports cars although there are also pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) as well. These tend to be larger than traditional roro vessels.

Container vessel roro (ConRo)

ConRo vessels combine container vessel features with the roro method, and can also transport unitized wheeled cargo.

Roll-on lift-off (RoLo)

Rolo is another hybrid that includes vehicle ramps in addition to cargo decks that make use of cranes.

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Lolo roro: Which loading method best suits your needs?

While each method has its particular advantages and disadvantages, roro allows for the shortest possible loading and unloading time and it is also the safest way of doing so. Roro also tends to be better suited for transporting vehicles.

However, if speed is not a priority then lolo remains a strong option. As well as being better for the environment, lolo is less expensive than roro. What's more, for high-volume shippers, lolo might make more sense as these vessels often have a larger load capacity.

Ultimately though, the best loading method for your needs comes down to your particular circumstances. So, get in touch with us at Nirint Shipping and one of our agents will be happy to advise at no obligation.

As a trusted expert in safely and efficiently shipping all types of cargo between Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond, with Nirint you can be sure that together we will find the best loading method for your goods.