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Ro-Ro between Turkey and Europe: when does it make sense?
Ro-Ro services carry trucks and trailers from Turkish ports to ports in Italy and France. Pros and cons versus road, and the effect on driving time.
· 4 мин четене
Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) means the truck or trailer drives onto the ship and drives off again at the other end. Between Turkey and Europe it is a serious alternative to the all-road route. Below is the general picture; lines, ports and schedules change often, so always get the current details from the operator.
Which ports are involved?
On the Turkish side, ports around Istanbul (for example Pendik and Ambarli) and Mersin are commonly mentioned. On the European side, Trieste in Italy and Toulon in France stand out on these services, and some operators also call at ports such as Bari and Patras. Which line runs today and which ports it serves differs by operator. We do not quote sailing frequency or prices, because both move constantly with season and load factor.
Two ways to use it
- Accompanied: the tractor and trailer board the ship and the driver travels with them.
- Unaccompanied trailer: only the trailer is shipped; at the arrival port another tractor collects it and delivers.
Unaccompanied shipping does not tie up a tractor and driver at sea, but you must arrange a tractor at the destination port, which means extra planning and coordination.
Advantages over road
- It can reduce exposure to long overland routes, busy border crossings and waiting times.
- Time on board can serve as rest for the driver.
- At some times and on some routes it can offset road congestion caused by weekend and holiday driving bans.
- Fuel and road costs follow a different structure than the all-road trip.
Disadvantages
- You depend on the sailing schedule. By road you leave when you want; with Ro-Ro you plan around the departure.
- Ports have gate and ramp cut-off times; miss them and the load waits for the next sailing.
- Disruption at the port or at sea (weather, congestion) can extend delivery time.
- For special cases such as dangerous goods, or high or heavy loads, ask about the ship's acceptance conditions separately.
Transit permits and driving time
On the road, permits and transit rules for each country you cross matter. With Ro-Ro some of those overland crossings simply do not happen, so part of that burden may shrink; but the documents needed on entering the destination country, and how permit quotas are counted, depend on the line and the country. Ask the operator and the relevant authorities rather than assuming.
Driving time is similar: EU rules contain provisions that allow rest periods to be interrupted under certain conditions when a vehicle is carried by ferry or train, for example regarding sleeping facilities for the driver. The details are specific, so check how to record it on the tachograph with current legislation and the competent authority. You can also brush up on the terms in the Glossary.
Deciding
- Is the delivery date flexible or fixed? If fixed, price in the risk of the sailing calendar.
- Is the cargo acceptable on board?
- Accompanied or unaccompanied? Is a tractor waiting at the destination?
- Put total road time and waiting risk next to the Ro-Ro option.
On Order And Load, when you put the route and delivery date in your load listing, carriers can see the constraints up front and quote accordingly; stating your Ro-Ro preference in the listing shortens the back-and-forth.