Durban – A shipping company says the introduction of roll-on and roll-off (ro-ro) vessels across South African ports can help ease congestion on major roads.
William Greig, CEO of Argonaftis Shipping and Trading , said that ro-ro vessels allow trailers or vehicles to be rolled on and off shipping vessels – removing the need for cranes and reducing the need for direct road freight services, which can be time-consuming, costly and unpredictable.
“Ro-ro vessels have proven to significantly make the movement of cargo on short-sea shipping (SSS) routes, less than 500 nautical miles, in Europe and northern America and the Baltic Sea and Asia, far more efficient and cost-effective. This service has the potential to benefit the transport industry of southern Africa, as it has in the European market for decades.”
Greig added that ro-ro shipping holds a substantial share of the total cargo handled in the main ports of northern and southern Europe.
“It is used to satisfy the transport needs of the automotive, yellow equipment, forestry and electric equipment industries, as well as all forms of wheeled transport, including dangerous and petroleum cargoes.”
He said Argonaftis will be introducing the vessels in the coming summer season and it will be rolled out across various ports including Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Maputo (Mozambique) and Walvis Bay (Namibia).
Greig said that by using the ro-ro system, shippers and road freight operators can significantly reduce the pressures on the road freight network.
“The cost-saving benefit for road freight operators will significantly improve their profitability, especially in the current global climate of cost pressures that affect margins.”