The development of the ro-ro was a large step forward in logistics.
Other investments through 2030-35 will include the building of a new fleet of strategic sealift ro-ro vessels and a purpose-built ice patrol ship to replace HMS Protector. 2026 September 14, Gary Davies, “The shape of things to come. Naval ships column”, in Ships Monthly, page 14:
Over the past 60 years the ferry industry in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe has undergone significant transformation. In the 1960s many ferry services were operated by relatively small, conventional ships carrying passengers, cars and freight on routes linking Britain with Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. But the introduction of roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferries revolutionised travel by allowing vehicles to drive directly on and off ships, greatly reducing port turnaround times and improving efficiency. During the 1970s and 1980s ferry companies invested heavily in larger and faster vessels as car ownership increased and tourism flourished. New routes opened across the English Channel, Irish Sea and North Sea, while operators such as P&O, Sealink, Stena Line and Brittany Ferries expanded their networks. High-speed craft appeared in the 1990s, reducing crossing times on busy routes. 2026 September 14, Scott Mackey, Gary Davies, Matt Davies, et al, “60 years of ferries”, in Ships Monthly, page 31:
(countable, uncountable) An individual vehicle of this kind.