Printer Friendly
Email a Friend
RORO Industry Meets in Go-Go Mood
01 May 2002
The growth outlook for Ro-Ro shipping is reflected in the theme of this month's RORO 2002 conference in Lubeck, Germany - 'a new era of opportunity'. Combined with a major exhibition, the 16th biennial event takes place at a time when Ro-Ro prospects have been boosted by advances in ship, terminal and equipment design, demand for door to door services and political initiatives to shift goods transport off congested roads to sea and rail based alternatives.
The conference will discuss issues such as the closer integration of maritime and inland transport operations to meet the needs of industrial shippers. A shipbuilding and technology session will compare standardised and bespoke designs for Ro-Ro construction while further technical sessions will review cargo handling, power and propulsion developments and safety management systems.
Safety and security issues will also be highlighted as crucial to the industry's development.
With America voicing its concern that weapons of mass destruction could find their way onto ships, changes in security requirements look unavoidable and could be agreed by year's end, with implementation possible under SOLAS regulations. An American funded working group is proposing the appointment of ship and shore-based security officers and the production of individual ship security plans.
Such measures would likely cover all ships over 500gt operating in international waters and would thus include many Ro-Ro vessels.
MJ Information No: 17013
