For wheeled machinery, dimensions and weight are not the only important figures.
Ground clearance can determine whether a unit can safely move over ramps, internal vessel transitions or temporary loading equipment.
This is especially relevant for:
- electric buses;
- construction machinery;
- agricultural equipment;
- specialised vehicles;
- low-floor industrial units.
A unit may technically fit inside a Ro-Ro vessel but still be unable to negotiate the ramp angle safely.
The same issue can arise during loading onto multipurpose vessels using temporary ramps or mafi equipment.
Cargo owners should therefore provide:
- unit dimensions;
- gross weight;
- ground clearance;
- wheelbase;
- self-propelled status;
- photographs;
- any manufacturer restrictions.
This allows owners to assess the complete loading geometry rather than simply comparing the unit with the vessel's door dimensions.
For wheeled cargo, a few centimetres of ground clearance can sometimes change the entire loading method.
See also: Electric buses and wheeled machinery.