The birth of the roll on roll off ferry

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

[sydmichel]

I found a very interesting film on youtube from the late 1950s documenting the first roll on roll off ferries from Tilbury to Antwerp and from Preston to Belfast.  Many were converted from WW2 Tank Landing Craft.  Its fascinating watching all the old car & truck designs and the refreshing lack of Health & Safety red tape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlyX7h_SCQU&feature=g-vrec&context=G2035ef6RVAAAAAAAAAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yiKnmP_uSA&feature=related

Also there is this one from Dover to Calais

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GshweOFubqU&feature=related

[Cat320DL]

That was cool.

Kyle

[clanky]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing.

[Kevinmcg_ships]

Original name for "Roll On, Roll Off" was "Drive On, Drive Off", until someone pointed out its acronym (DODO) which is really not a good thing, so it was changed.

[Cat320DL]

Original name for "Roll On, Roll Off" was "Drive On, Drive Off", until someone pointed out its acronym (DODO) which is really not a good thing, so it was changed.

Ok I didn't know that.

Kyle

[Kevinmcg_ships]

Ok I didn't know that.

Kyle

Neither did I, until a couple of years ago when I watched a TV documentary about the birth of purpose-built RORO ferries that appeared during the 1950s & 1960s.

[Cat320DL]

Ok cool.

Kyle