Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2003.
As automobile production became an increasingly globalized industry, the need to transport vehicles overseas increased. RO-RO (Roll On – Roll Off) ships suit such a purpose. Vehicles are rolled on the ship’s decks and parked. The deck height can be adjusted to carry bigger vehicles such as vans and trucks. Loading or unloading such a ship is however labor-intensive as a driver is required to drive each vehicle and park it at its appropriate onboard location (or on a port parking facility if the ship is being unloaded). The above photo was taken at Le Havre port in France, an important automobile exporter.