The Integration of RoRo Shipping in Sustainable Intermodal Transport Chains: The Case of a North European RoRo Service

Anastasia Christodoulou, Zeeshan Raza and Johan Woxenius
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Anastasia Christodoulou: Department of Business Administration, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Zeeshan Raza: Department of Business Administration, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Johan Woxenius: Department of Business Administration, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Roll on–roll off (RoRo) shipping represents a maritime segment that could easily form part of an intermodal transport system, as cargo does not need to be lifted in ports; it is ‘rolled’ to and from sea. This paper investigates the operation of RoRo shipping services in Northern Europe, focusing on a set of services chartered by a major shipper whose demand has a great impact on the service design, potentially affecting the frequency of departures and even stipulating the use of specific vessels. The case of cooperation between Stora Enso, a major forest company in Sweden and Finland, and the shipping company Swedish Orient Line (SOL) is analysed, giving some insight into the way these RoRo services operate and manage to integrate successfully into sustainable intermodal transport chains. Despite various initiatives taken by different stakeholders, the level of integration of shipping in intermodal transport chains has been quite slow. This paper’s results could contribute to the identification of barriers that prevent RoRo shipping from being a viable alternative to road transport for certain transport routes and assist in the discovery of policies and incentives that could lead to developing sustainable intermodal transport chains.

Keywords: RoRo shipping; intermodal transport; Northern Europe; forest industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2422-:d:225454

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