Click for Stena Line web site
Stena Europe unloading RoRo freight traffic at Port of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Stena Caledonia departs Fishguard, Pembrokeshire for Rosslare, Ireland on 12th June 2005 Stena Europe departs Fishguard for dry-dock on 28th Jan 2008; Stena Nordica arrives to take-up the run.
The then, P&O vessel "European Diplomat" loads freight and is seen departing Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland on 15th May 2004. Steam Train at Fishguard Harbour (19/08/06) Stena Lynx III docks on her berth at the Port of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, then proceeds to quay wall extension ("the extension") for lay-over till following morning. Filmed: 15th June 2003
The last of the Harland & Wolff 'Saint class' ships to remain in service in UK waters, and indeed the last Sealink ship to remain in service with Stena Line is seen docking at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Stena Europe docking at Fishguard - filmed from cliff Big rigs loading aboard Stena Europe, Fishguard, bound for Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland, on 12th December 2004.
Moby-Dick - filmed in Fishguard Stena Europe departing Fishguard on 24th August 2003 Isle of Inishmore at Rosslare Europort, County Wexford, Ireland on 25th June 2003

Big Rigs

Heavy trucks load aboard the RoRo vessel Stena Europe.

Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are ferries designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars. This is in contrast to lo-lo (lift on-lift off) vessels which use a crane to load and unload cargo.

RORO vessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port. While smaller ferries that operate across rivers and other short distances still often have built-in ramps, the term RORO is generally reserved for larger ocean-going vessels. The ramps and doors may be stern-only, or bow and stern for quick loading.
 


 

Semi-trailer truck

The noticeable difference between tractor units in the U.S. and Continental Europe is that most European models are "cab over engine" (COE or forward control), while most U.S. trucks are conventional (or normal control). For repairs, the entire cab hinges forward to allow maintenance access. European trucks, whether small rigid or fully articulated, have a sheer face on the front. This allows greater maneuverability, as the driver need only gauge distances behind his seating point, and this allows for shorter trucks with longer trailers (with larger freight capacity) within the legal maximum total length. In Europe the entire length of the vehicle is measured as total length, while in U.S. the cabin of the truck is normally not part of the measurement.
 

 

United Kingdom

In the UK, to carry the maximum permitted gross weight of 44 tonnes, both tractor and semi-trailer must have 3 or more axles each. In practice, there is no legal height limit; however, bridges over 16.5 ft (5.03 m) do not have the height marked on them. No heavier vehicles are permitted on the UK road network, except for indivisible loads which would be classed as abnormal (or oversize); these vehicles are required to display an STGO (Special Types General Order) plate on the front of the prime mover and, under certain circumstances, are required to travel by an authorised route and have an escort.

In the UK some articulated trucks have 8 tyres on 3 axles on the tractor these are known as 6 wheelers or "6 leggers", with either the centre or rear axle having single wheels which normally steer as well as the front axle and can be raised when not needed (i.e. when unloaded or only a light load is being carried; an arrangement known as a TAG axle), while some trailers have 2 axles which have twin wheels on each axle, and other trailers with 3 axles of which 1 axle can be a TAG axle which have super-single wheels; In the UK, two wheels bolted to the same hub are classed as a single wheel, therefore a standard six-axle articulated truck is considered to have twelve wheels, even though it has twenty tyres. The UK also allows Arctic truck tractors which have 6 tyres on 2 axles; these are known as 4 wheelers.
Articulated lorrys with extended tents, representing Renault at Silverstone.

Most UK trailers are 45 feet (13.5 meters) long and, dependent on the position of the fifth wheel and kingpin, a coupled tractor unit and trailer will have a combined length of between 50 and 55 feet (15.25 and 16.75 meters). Although the Construction and Use Regulations allow a maximum rigid length of 60 feet (18.2 meters), this combined with a shallow kingpin and fifth wheel set close to the rear of the tractor unit can give an overall length of around 75 feet (22.75 meters), although combinations of this length are usually used only to carry steel or concrete beams. Providing certain requirements are fulfilled, a Special Types General Order (STGO) allows for vehicles of any size or weight to travel on UK roads. However, in practice any such vehicle has to travel by a route authorised by the Department of Transport and move under escort. The escort of abnormal loads in the UK is now predominantly carried out by private companies, but extremely large or heavy loads that require road closures must still be escorted by the police.