Anyone shipping their vehicle by roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) wants to keep track of everything from the first gate scan to unloading. Modern shipping company portals, terminal data and global AIS position updates make this possible - provided you set up your roro tracking system correctly and interpret the status messages correctly. In this guide, we show you how tracking at sea really works, which sources are reliable, which messages you can expect and which best practices will make your waiting time stress-free. You will also find a checklist to tick off, a comparison table of data sources and further links.
With RoRo, the ship transports your vehicle as a rolling unit - not as a single package. There is no GPS box on the car (and such devices are often prohibited for safety reasons). Instead, the roro tracking system is based on three pillars:
Together they provide a reliable picture - if you combine the individual pieces of the puzzle correctly and activate the notifications in the customer portal.
Tip: Check real departures and transshipments in advance with the timetables in real time. This allows you to plan backwards from ETA and cut-off.
Every RoRo vessel regularly transmits AIS position data (incl. MMSI, course, speed) via VHF. Coastal stations, satellites and harbour authorities receive these signals. This allows the actual route to be tracked live - even if the schedule has been adjusted. Official background: IMO requires AIS equipment for SOLAS ships; details can be found at the International Maritime Organisation: imo.org - AIS.
Shipping companies reflect milestones along the transport chain: Booking release, Gate-In, Loaded on Vessel, Sailed, Arrived, Discharged. These timestamps come from the terminal operating system (TOS) and are usually updated on an event basis - not continuously like AIS.
Terminals provide gate scans and congestion/unloading times. At large hubs in particular, this data helps to understand quay manoeuvres and buffer times. Not every terminal is publicly accessible, but much of the data is fed into shipping company portals.
Timetable APIs show planned ETD/ETA and rotations. In combination with AIS, you can recognise whether the ship is on schedule or whether delays are to be expected. Use the timetables for this.
Visible:
Not visible / often misunderstood:
Pro-Note: There can be hours or even days between arrival and discharge - depending on the congestion planning. Arriving on time does not guarantee that the vehicle will be available immediately.
| Source | Update rhythm | Strengths | Boundaries | Practice score* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIS (Coast+Satellite) | Seconds to minutes | Real-time route, course/speed | Dead spots, harbour shading, data protection | ★★★★☆ |
| Shipping company portal | Event-based | Binding milestones, documents | Not continuous, varies depending on the line | ★★★★★ |
| Terminal information | Event-based | Exact gate scans, congestion/unloading times | Not always public, sometimes delayed | ★★★★☆ |
| Timetable feed | Plan-based (daily) | Overview, planning, route comparison | No real time; inaccurate for weather/blank sailings | ★★★☆☆ |
*Subjective categorisation for practical benefits in the combination.
Table description (alt text): Matrix compares AIS, shipping company, terminal and timetable data in terms of up-to-dateness, strengths and limitations in the roro tracking system.
You can find out more about preparation in the article Digital RoRo booking process and in our Checklist for RoRo shipping.
08:05 - "Sailed"
The portal reports departure. AIS shows 13 knots, heading eastwards. ETA according to the timetable in 7 days.
13:20 - Change of course
AIS indicates evasive manoeuvre due to weather. Speed drops to 10 kn; ETA in the portal +8 hours.
Next morning - "Arrived"
Ship is lying in the roadstead. AIS points close together, portal confirms arrival time.
+6 hours - "Discharged"
Unload vehicle, customs clearance possible. Plan collection for the following day.
+1 day - "Gate-Out"
Vehicle handed over - tracking completed, dossier archived.
These key figures help to objectively compare carriers/terminals and proactively manage the roro tracking system.
| Status | Meaning | What is important now |
|---|---|---|
| Gate-In | Vehicle taken over at the terminal | Check last documents; notifications active |
| Loaded on Vessel | Loading completed | Confirm departure ETA; start AIS monitoring |
| Sailed | Ship has sailed | Keep an eye on transshipment times |
| Arrived | Ship arrived | Wait for unloading window; prepare for collection |
| Discharged | Unload vehicle | Start customs clearance/tracking |
| Gate-Out | Vehicle handed over | Close dossier; update KPIs |
Table description (alt text): Assignment of common RoRo status messages to practical Next Steps for shippers.
Illustration: A schematic timeline "Booking → Gate-In → Loaded → Sailed → Arrived → Discharged → Gate-Out" with icon markers.
Alt-Text: "Timeline with milestones of RoRo tracking from gate-in to gate-out."
How often does a roro tracking system update itself?
Shipping company portals work on an event basis (minutes to hours). AIS sometimes provides the ship's position every minute. Data may be incomplete in ports (radio shadowing, prioritisation of safety-relevant systems).
Can I track my car live via GPS?
No. For safety and insurance reasons, live vessel tracking during the voyage is unusual and often prohibited. Use portal events and ship tracking via AIS instead.
Why does the AIS route deviate from the timetable?
Weather, traffic jams, port omissions or speed reductions lead to routing adjustments. Rely on the portal for milestones (loaded/discharged) and on AIS for route conditions.
How do I recognise transhipments in tracking?
The portal shows the rotation and planned connecting vessels. You can recognise the change in the AIS when your originating vessel unloads at the hub and your connecting vessel departs.
What does tracking cost?
Tracking is usually part of the service. Specific prices depend on relation, carrier and additional services - please ask for an individual offer.
Where can I find out more?
Official background to AIS: IMO - AIS. Also: Digital RoRo booking process and the checklist for RoRo shipping.
A reliable roro tracking system combines AIS position data with event-based portal events and up-to-date schedules. Activating notifications, keeping an eye on transhipments and keeping documents complete avoids stress - even in the event of weather or rotation-related changes. The following applies to budget planning: prices depend on the project; request a personalised quote. Start route planning now using the timetables in real time and set up your tracking according to the best practices described.
Disclaimer: All information in this article has been carefully researched but is subject to change at any time. ODS Orient accepts no liability for the topicality, accuracy and completeness of the information provided.
Anyone shipping their vehicle by roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) wants to keep track of everything from the first gate scan to unloading. Modern shipping company portals, terminal data and global AIS position updates make this possible - provided you set up your roro tracking system correctly and interpret the status messages correctly. In this guide, we show you how tracking at sea really works, which sources [...]
Whether fleet, construction machine or private vehicle - anyone who dispatches vehicles via roll-on/roll-off today benefits from an end-to-end digital roro booking process. Portals, APIs and automated workflows replace email ping-pong, reduce error rates and make deadlines and statuses transparent. This guide provides you with practical step-by-step instructions, a compact document checklist, information on security and customs declarations (e.g. ENS/ICS2), plus internal [...]
