Le Havre — France · Maritime freight forwarder
Shipping modes
RoRo or container: the right mode depends on the vehicle, its value, the destination and what you want to load with it.
On a RoRo vessel — roll-on/roll-off — the vehicle enters via a ramp and is driven to its spot on one of the decks, exactly like a multi-storey car park. It is then lashed to the floor.
No disassembly, no packing: it's the most direct mode, and generally the most economical when a single roadworthy vehicle is being shipped.
In return, shipping lines apply strict rules: the vehicle must drive under its own power, be empty, and fuel level is limited.
The vehicle is loaded into a 20 or 40-foot shipping container, chocked and lashed to the floor. The container is then sealed and handled like any other freight unit.
The vehicle undergoes no further direct handling until the container is opened at destination, making it the preferred mode for high-value, recent, or non-roadworthy vehicles.
It's also the only mode that allows personal effects, equipment or goods to be loaded around the vehicle — and the cost to be shared across several vehicles in a 40-foot container.
There's no single "best" mode. The right choice depends on the vehicle's condition, its value, what you want to load with it, and the destination port.
Principle
Non-roadworthy vehicle
Personal effects
Exposure to weather
Grouped goods
Relative cost
Departure port
All our shipments depart from Le Havre, France's leading container port and the head of the shipping lines serving the African Atlantic coast. Vehicles picked up elsewhere in France or Europe are transported by road to our departure area.
Free quote — no obligation
Send us the make, model, year and destination port. We'll respond with a quote and the most suitable shipping mode.