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The article examines the potential of specially constructed freighters for the transportation of loaded freight cars in solving the problem of terminal efficiency. With this method of transportation, freight cars can be loaded and unloaded in a time period of 10 hours, requiring a ship to only stay in port for one day instead of four to six. Because of the smaller amount of time needed as well as the smaller crew required to load and unload the ships, the lower cost is substantial. Also, because the freight cars act as the packaging for the transported materials for the entire trip, insurance costs are lowered. The author looks at some of the problems with freight car shipping, and potential regulations, as well as changes in equipment resulting from this new source of transportation.

The article offers the author's outlook on the roll-on roll-off shipping in the U.S. She mentions the stable flow of automotive cargos through ports in the country despite threats to trade. An overview of the perspective of Frank Camp of the Port of Jacksonville (Jaxport) on the rise of exports along with the manufacture of automobiles is also presented..

The article highlights the growing popularity of roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships for product transportation to the U.S. Ro-Ro offers greater efficiency for products that cannot be fitted in containers like that of circus animals and bulky farm machinery as it does not require containers to be removed from trailers for the product to be shipped. The Altantic Container Line, Ltd. and the Transatlantic Steamship Co. are some of the carriers leading in the Ro-Ro market, with Transatlantic building two ships for Ro-Ro use between U.S. and Australia.

The article reports on the market condition for the roll-on, roll-off or ro-ro ships due to tough economic and geopolitical challenges. It mentions that low bunker fuel prices has limited the operating costs, rulling out the need to raise freight rates at the risk of losing business to rival modes like trucking. It states that the new emission regulations would lead industry to bankruptcies, route closures and the loss of cargo to trucking can never materialized.

The article explores the relationship of the U.S. military and roll-on, roll-off carriers (ro-ro). Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, helicopters and other military equipment are some of the things shipped by ro-ro carriers for the U.S. air force. Ro-ro carriers are also seen to be benefited with the phase-out of the U.S. combat operations in Iraq in 2010 as many military equipment are being shipped back to the U.S. The U.S. Transportation Command is the one responsible for the contracts entered by the military with ro-ro carriers. INSETS: HANDLING WITH MILITARY PRECISION;A LOGISTICS TOUR DE FORCE.

The article reports on the impact of the slowdown of the construction industry on roll-on, roll-off carriers handling heavy equipment in the U.S. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 65,000 construction jobs were lost in August 2009. Indications that the industry faces a bleak future include the non-purchase of new equipment by contractors, the deterioration of nonresidential construction and the increase in the number of contractors that will close or put equipment up for auction.

The article focuses on the roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) trade between the U.S. and the Middle East. It states that ro-ro carriers in the U.S. have ceded exports of privately owned vehicles to container carriers in the Middle East in order to satisfy the needs of their original equipment manufacturer customers. The impact of a ban on imports of cars more than 5 years old by the Saudi Arabian Customs Department on the U.S.-Middle East ro-ro trade is discussed.

The article reports that ro-ro operators in the U.S. are affected by the weak automobile market caused by the financial crisis. It is noted that ro-ro operators will likely experience problems because there is no assurance that the bailout for the automobile industry would help them in the long run. Operators have decided to lessen capacity as soon as demand goes down.

The article reports on the increasing demand for roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) vessels in the U.S. According to the author, shippers of high and heavy cargo often have a hard time finding vessel capacity because of the shortage of ro-ro vessels. According to Brooks Royster, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration and director of the Port of Baltimore, carriers are expected to take delivery of several new ro-ro vessels in 2007 and 2008.

Focuses on the advantages of operating roll on, roll-off (ro-ro) ships. Use of ro-ro vessels owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration to store emergency vehicles in preparation for Hurricane Rita; Factors that contribute to the success of the ro-ro ship construction industry; Cost allotted by Matson Navigation Co. to convert a C-9 container ship to a combination ro-ro container vessel; Features of the Midnight Sun and the North Star ships from Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc.

The article focuses on the U.S. Department of Defense's use of roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) ships to transport military cargo. It is stated that an equivalent of 5 square miles of military cargo has been transported by ro-ro ships since 2003. Eric Ebeling, director of government affairs at U.S.-flag ro-ro carrier American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier, on being a U.S.-flag carrier. It cites the competition faced by U.S. ro-ro operators from U.S. breakbulk operators.

The article reports on the demand of roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) operators for more space for terminal operations in the U.S. and emerging markets. According to Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics executive vice president John Fellito, it is always a challenge for them to find a port with space to expand. For ro-ro carrier MOL, Russian ports are not a good option because they cannot handle vessels with capacity of 1, 700 to 2, 500 units or more.

The article discusses the growing demand for roll-on, roll-off vessels (ro-ro) of the U.S. military that was generated by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since ships moving government supplies are required to be U.S. flag, foreign ro-ro operators have formed U.S.-based subsidiaries. Several carriers, like the Alliance Navigation's Alliance New York, responded to the demand by setting up services that move in and out of the Persian Gulf region with dedicated U.S.-flag vessels.

Features the large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) vessels of the U.S. Military Sealift Command. Design of the LMSR; Mechanical efficiency; Cargo stowage area.

The article relates the story of Rob Boydstun, a man from Oregon who discovered how to convert old vehicles into little houses, called the Miranda Homes, that cost between 100,000 U.S. dollars and 25,000 U.S. dollars. The houses can be constructed by five workers in 45 days, compared to the average 15 workers in 225 days needed in constructing a typical house. He has spent almost two decades running a firm that builds and sells commercial car carriers but shifted to inventing a new way to make such buildings since the collapse of the car-carrier market.

The article reports that the competition among automobile manufacturers for U.S. market share benefits Latin America and roll-on/roll-off shipping, which depends on car market for most of its business. Mexico's motor vehicle exports, of which 90% go to the U.S., has increased 51% in the first four months of 2006, after several lean years brought about by a decline in car sales in the U.S. General Motors and Toyota have manufacturing operations in Mexico, and are investing heavily as they seek to meet strong U.S. demand.

Focuses on the bankruptcy of the Mississippi shipyard that is building the roll-on, roll-off ships for Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines. Details of the bankruptcy of the shipyard; Background on Pasha; Focus on the dominance of Matson Navigation Co.

Reports that the National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) has landed a contract to design work on commercial roll-on, roll-off ships for Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE) in San Diego, California. Delivery schedule for ships; Other shipbuilders that vied for the contract; Comments of TOTE president Bob Magee on why the contract was awarded to NASSCO.

The article focuses on the status of the trade relations between the U.S. and Germany. According to the author, Germany is an attractive place for U.S. companies to establish subsidiaries or joint ventures. Over 2,000 U.S. companies are doing business in Germany. An important logistics and distribution center for foreign trade to and from Germany is the Port of Hamburg. The port is used as a hub port for U.S. seaborne trade by a number of regular container liner services, roll-on, roll-off, conventional cargo services and bulk and tramp business.

The article reflects on the significance of global outsourcing to the U.S. The success of interdependence was evident in the construction and operation of the Hoegh Detroit, a roll on-roll off ship from Norwegian carrier Hoegh Autoliners. Pundits such as Lou Dobbs will dislike the notion that the U.S. industry should outsource key services to overseas providers. Small countries like Norway learned that they could not survive without strengthening relationships with capable foreign partners.

The article highlights that the sharp new reality of potential catastrophic terrorist attack has caused a rapid reallocation and redesign of capabilities to counter potential maritime threats to the U.S. These threats include but are not limited to attacks against vessels such as cruise ships, ferries, and commercial vessels, the destruction of port facilities, and attacks on nuclear power plants. The Coast Guard has experienced massive organizational change in the past three years to meet these challenges, but additional changes need to occur.

Features the large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships of the U.S. Navy. Specifications of the Shughart Class ship; Endurance capability; Number of crew required.

Reports the expansion of roll-on⁄roll-off facilities in the United States. Construction of auto processing center and facilities to accommodate larger vessels in Tacoma, Washington; Improvements of automobile processors in Jackson, Florida; Separation of auto shipments from container traffic through a bridge.

Reports on the renaming of a large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ship operated by the United States (U.S.) Military Sealift Command, in tribute of U.S. Marine Fred W. Stockman. Design of the ship; Principal speakers at the christening ceremonies of the ship in Jacksonville, Florida; Background information on the heroism of Stockman.

Reports on the commissioning of the roll-on/roll-off USNS Gordon as combat support and service support vessel for the US Army. Number of support vessels allotted for the Army; Features of the vessel; Army's preposition-afloat program.