Shipping in a container - questions
09-01-2002, 09:34 AM
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Shipping in a container - questions
In a few months I hope to ship the car back to Oz, so it can rejoin its rightful RHD bretheren.
Does anybody have any experiences of such shippings they would like to share please? Drain it, disconnect battery, bags of silica, anti-fungal stuff, covers... ???
Any and all suggestions welcome.
TIA
jp
83 Euro S, RHD in a LHD country.
Does anybody have any experiences of such shippings they would like to share please? Drain it, disconnect battery, bags of silica, anti-fungal stuff, covers... ???
Any and all suggestions welcome.
TIA
jp
83 Euro S, RHD in a LHD country.
09-01-2002, 09:45 AM
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Reinhardt,
Yes, looks like it. COmbination of family things at home, offer of work back in Oz etc. You know how it goes.
A friend of mine used a place named 'Barwil' here last year with no problems, but if your contact has an office here in Riyadh, and can give me a base price for 40ft to Melbourne it would be useful, thanks. Seeing as we have to have a container for the car, we are going to take everything except the kitchen sink with us - 9 years of accumulated crap. We have a fully fitted house in Mel, but you can never have too much crocker, cutlery, linen etc can you? To say nothing of PCs, TVs etc.
How did you get on with the 944 problem - solved??
jp.
Yes, looks like it. COmbination of family things at home, offer of work back in Oz etc. You know how it goes.
A friend of mine used a place named 'Barwil' here last year with no problems, but if your contact has an office here in Riyadh, and can give me a base price for 40ft to Melbourne it would be useful, thanks. Seeing as we have to have a container for the car, we are going to take everything except the kitchen sink with us - 9 years of accumulated crap. We have a fully fitted house in Mel, but you can never have too much crocker, cutlery, linen etc can you? To say nothing of PCs, TVs etc.
How did you get on with the 944 problem - solved??
jp.
09-01-2002, 11:38 AM
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John-
Congrats & Masallamah.
I shipped a Volvo 850 Turbo from Jeddah to UK in A 40 footer, did nothing to prepare it, and, although it ended up spending 3 months on the dock in KSA, when it rolled off at Southhampton I stuck the key in & drove home (broke the container in customs) on Aramco's best leaded. I doubt our 928s would have any battery charge by that time, but I had no other concerns. I think your biggest problem will be pilferage on both sides- a mate had his Dicovery brutalized to the point of reconstruction w/ no indication of where it happened. I would remove the stereo & battery and pack nothing inside.
Good luck,
Donald
P.S. who are you with over there?
Congrats & Masallamah.
I shipped a Volvo 850 Turbo from Jeddah to UK in A 40 footer, did nothing to prepare it, and, although it ended up spending 3 months on the dock in KSA, when it rolled off at Southhampton I stuck the key in & drove home (broke the container in customs) on Aramco's best leaded. I doubt our 928s would have any battery charge by that time, but I had no other concerns. I think your biggest problem will be pilferage on both sides- a mate had his Dicovery brutalized to the point of reconstruction w/ no indication of where it happened. I would remove the stereo & battery and pack nothing inside.
Good luck,
Donald
P.S. who are you with over there?
09-01-2002, 03:37 PM
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Donald,
As I am taking a load of household stuff as well, they tell me the car gets loaded and sealed behind a wooden door to separate it from the other goods. I would hope to be there for the car loading and sealing. The rest will be loaded at out villa, so car should be ok by then. Hope it doesnt spend that long on the docks though?
I am with a company selling computers, mostly into KSA government bodies. Spent 5 years with Lucent until early last year, 2 years with a govt hospital before that.
Thanks,
jp
As I am taking a load of household stuff as well, they tell me the car gets loaded and sealed behind a wooden door to separate it from the other goods. I would hope to be there for the car loading and sealing. The rest will be loaded at out villa, so car should be ok by then. Hope it doesnt spend that long on the docks though?
I am with a company selling computers, mostly into KSA government bodies. Spent 5 years with Lucent until early last year, 2 years with a govt hospital before that.
Thanks,
jp
09-02-2002, 01:41 AM
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John-
[2nd try- the whole post was wiped when I fumbled the send- shorter this time
]
Mine was partitioned also, but the car was required to go to the port impound first, could not load at the compound so it went in last.
[N.B. Several carpets, a new U/W strobe & Nikonos, etc. disappeared in route.]
Big problem in UK w/ registration as the Saudis kept the Istamara ergo no proof of ownership or provenance. Had to jump through hoops (thanks to kind Jeddah High Commission Consul & a Pom friend) to get enough stamps on enough papers to satisfy the British Motor Reg, the procedure had just changed, allegedly. So check w/ your guys, suggest you have a copy of the Istamara certified by them just in case, and if the procedure is still the same- a written explanation from your embassy. By the way, they also took the plates. I had a set of copies made out of fiberglass so I could drive it in the interim as well as in the UK until I could get a more formal registration. Also was required to take the car personally to the main police station to have the VIN verified vis the registration papers & checked against liens, thefts, sales records (hah!), goat entrails... in addition to the usual check on outstanding warrants & tickets before export permission was given. I took a properly attired Arabic speaker with me (one who had no appointments for the rest of the day- you know what I mean) otherwise this might never have been completed.
Never found out why the container sat for so long, or to what destination it may have traveled along the way. Every follow-up was answered with 'you're shipping to Jeddah, yes? Inshallah tomorrow we know.....'
Just another something to remind you of reason 4,396 of why you are leaving.
Donald
[2nd try- the whole post was wiped when I fumbled the send- shorter this time
]Mine was partitioned also, but the car was required to go to the port impound first, could not load at the compound so it went in last.
[N.B. Several carpets, a new U/W strobe & Nikonos, etc. disappeared in route.]
Big problem in UK w/ registration as the Saudis kept the Istamara ergo no proof of ownership or provenance. Had to jump through hoops (thanks to kind Jeddah High Commission Consul & a Pom friend) to get enough stamps on enough papers to satisfy the British Motor Reg, the procedure had just changed, allegedly. So check w/ your guys, suggest you have a copy of the Istamara certified by them just in case, and if the procedure is still the same- a written explanation from your embassy. By the way, they also took the plates. I had a set of copies made out of fiberglass so I could drive it in the interim as well as in the UK until I could get a more formal registration. Also was required to take the car personally to the main police station to have the VIN verified vis the registration papers & checked against liens, thefts, sales records (hah!), goat entrails... in addition to the usual check on outstanding warrants & tickets before export permission was given. I took a properly attired Arabic speaker with me (one who had no appointments for the rest of the day- you know what I mean) otherwise this might never have been completed.
Never found out why the container sat for so long, or to what destination it may have traveled along the way. Every follow-up was answered with 'you're shipping to Jeddah, yes? Inshallah tomorrow we know.....'
Just another something to remind you of reason 4,396 of why you are leaving.
Donald
09-02-2002, 02:05 AM
#7
Donald,
Nowwwwwwwwwwwwww I know why you REALLY like Texas
JP,
Bon Voyage and good luck.
My Camaro had cigarrette burns and a inch or two of peanut shells when I picked her up in Bremerhaven... savages are everywhere!
As to your present place of employment each time I left there was a pleasure. Actually, I liked the people hated the iron clad protocols...thank God/Allah for Bahrain <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />
Nowwwwwwwwwwwwww I know why you REALLY like Texas
JP,
Bon Voyage and good luck.
My Camaro had cigarrette burns and a inch or two of peanut shells when I picked her up in Bremerhaven... savages are everywhere!
As to your present place of employment each time I left there was a pleasure. Actually, I liked the people hated the iron clad protocols...thank God/Allah for Bahrain <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />
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09-02-2002, 03:25 AM
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What have I started? Dont want to hear tales of woe and vandalism! My understanding of exporting cars here now is you get permission to export, get black export plates, which can only be driven in KSA for 5 days, then it must be out or off the road. I will have it well insured also.
Should I drain it of gas, remove battery, and show them where to tie it down? Should it be tied down at all? The front has eyes for ties, but the rear? COuld it be done with the tow hook in the rear bumper? Stereo is a removable so thats easy to pull and pack separately.
jp
Should I drain it of gas, remove battery, and show them where to tie it down? Should it be tied down at all? The front has eyes for ties, but the rear? COuld it be done with the tow hook in the rear bumper? Stereo is a removable so thats easy to pull and pack separately.
jp
09-02-2002, 11:05 AM
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JohnP-
My car was almost completely unscathed, just a small scuff mark on a fender which rubbed right out. I would disconnect the battery to prevent drain & remove stereo as a precaution. I don't think most shippers say anything about gasoline; it's pretty much the same as sitting in a garage for a month. If it were a problem I think the insurors would require draining tanks. FWIW, I've heard more stories like John S's from Europe (and some US ports) than other locations,
and I'm not convinced that the pilferage I experienced was in Jeddah.
The black plate procedure is completely different than what I went through. Still recommend getting an attested copy of the Istamara, just in case.
The Volvo was tied down front & rear (I think they leave the original shipping points on those cars??), and if you install the rear one on your 928 that would be a good idea and definitely tell them where to & not to, and document. That way if they damage the rear suspension thingie you get a new one. Tie down is only to prevent semi-abnormal movement, if the container experiences inversion, it's probably in the drink anyway. They also chocked mine pretty well. If it does bounce around no matter how well or badly they secured it, it's their fault. With the partition one big damage danger is gone-falling & flying boxes.
I used Norwich Union & they were great.
Didn't mean to scare you off, just point out some areas where I did not adequately prepare. [I was also in a big hurry, as my wife decided to deliver several weeks early, but in the UK]
Can you obtain temporary plates in AUS easily? A pity you will miss out on the thrill of wondering if those markers you used to highlight the numbering were really waterproof or whether you are whipping along w/ suspiciously blank number plates... The fibreglass ones are hanging in the garage now, just in case I want to drive around wearing a gutrah.
Cheers,
Donald
My car was almost completely unscathed, just a small scuff mark on a fender which rubbed right out. I would disconnect the battery to prevent drain & remove stereo as a precaution. I don't think most shippers say anything about gasoline; it's pretty much the same as sitting in a garage for a month. If it were a problem I think the insurors would require draining tanks. FWIW, I've heard more stories like John S's from Europe (and some US ports) than other locations,
and I'm not convinced that the pilferage I experienced was in Jeddah.
The black plate procedure is completely different than what I went through. Still recommend getting an attested copy of the Istamara, just in case.
The Volvo was tied down front & rear (I think they leave the original shipping points on those cars??), and if you install the rear one on your 928 that would be a good idea and definitely tell them where to & not to, and document. That way if they damage the rear suspension thingie you get a new one. Tie down is only to prevent semi-abnormal movement, if the container experiences inversion, it's probably in the drink anyway. They also chocked mine pretty well. If it does bounce around no matter how well or badly they secured it, it's their fault. With the partition one big damage danger is gone-falling & flying boxes.
I used Norwich Union & they were great.
Didn't mean to scare you off, just point out some areas where I did not adequately prepare. [I was also in a big hurry, as my wife decided to deliver several weeks early, but in the UK]
Can you obtain temporary plates in AUS easily? A pity you will miss out on the thrill of wondering if those markers you used to highlight the numbering were really waterproof or whether you are whipping along w/ suspiciously blank number plates... The fibreglass ones are hanging in the garage now, just in case I want to drive around wearing a gutrah.
Cheers,
Donald
09-02-2002, 11:30 AM
#10
JP,
Sorry about the downer.
It's my long ex-military life back to haunt me - and I guess you... -. Sorry.
More to the point, Check in with the folks at the recieving end. Ask what the inbound inspectors are looking for. Over here, particularly these days, where we have whole media corporations(FOX) propagandizing/justifying a war on -not with-Iraq.
Due to the Saudi's balking - rightly so -inspections could get tougher.
Wash the sHARk thoroughly. If you pull a wheel look at the A arm perch areas for compacted sand, and rock, clean out the engine bay and vacuum the door pockets, pull the splash guards front and rear clean well. There might be some debris on top to the mufflers and tips. Don't forget to vacuum the map pockets and tire/battery boot area.
Otherwise a good general wash and vacuuming.
Put all splash guards ect back on when you are done. If you just lay them in the rear deck area they are goners. Just disconnect the battery, charge well befor hand and see if you can get those original pole covers for the trip.
I wish you a good journey and Gods Speed back to Oz.
Where the Women glow and the Men thunder -especially in a 928 <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />
Sorry about the downer.
It's my long ex-military life back to haunt me - and I guess you... -. Sorry.
More to the point, Check in with the folks at the recieving end. Ask what the inbound inspectors are looking for. Over here, particularly these days, where we have whole media corporations(FOX) propagandizing/justifying a war on -not with-Iraq.
Due to the Saudi's balking - rightly so -inspections could get tougher.
Wash the sHARk thoroughly. If you pull a wheel look at the A arm perch areas for compacted sand, and rock, clean out the engine bay and vacuum the door pockets, pull the splash guards front and rear clean well. There might be some debris on top to the mufflers and tips. Don't forget to vacuum the map pockets and tire/battery boot area.
Otherwise a good general wash and vacuuming.
Put all splash guards ect back on when you are done. If you just lay them in the rear deck area they are goners. Just disconnect the battery, charge well befor hand and see if you can get those original pole covers for the trip.
I wish you a good journey and Gods Speed back to Oz.
Where the Women glow and the Men thunder -especially in a 928 <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />
09-03-2002, 02:47 AM
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John et al, Hopefully I will learn something from other's bad experiences, so not really upset by tales of woe. Shipper tells me the car will be loaded at my house, and walled up, then other junk loaded in, so car should not be exposed to unwanted attentions, not here anyway.
Title should not be a problem, as I have the bill of sale translated into English, and also have permission from OZ DOT to import (mandatory before shipping) with my name and VIN on it.
I have not found a steam cleaner here anywhere. The local car underside wash facilities lift with rails underneath which sort of 'fit where they touch' so the P car is NOT going on one of those! The last times I had corners up and wheels off I scrubbed everything in sight with Simple Green, brush, lots of water. Underneath is now lovely and white, including the floor pan, rails etc. I try to keep it that way each time I wash it. Not quite as shiny as Tony's car, but moving that way - no dirt clinging to anything, so I think Quarantine will be okay.
Any thoughts on using anything to prevent fungal growth going through the tropics? Shipper tells me 24 days at sea from Dammam to Mel. Should I put a cover on it, as I have one handy?
TIA
jp
Title should not be a problem, as I have the bill of sale translated into English, and also have permission from OZ DOT to import (mandatory before shipping) with my name and VIN on it.
I have not found a steam cleaner here anywhere. The local car underside wash facilities lift with rails underneath which sort of 'fit where they touch' so the P car is NOT going on one of those! The last times I had corners up and wheels off I scrubbed everything in sight with Simple Green, brush, lots of water. Underneath is now lovely and white, including the floor pan, rails etc. I try to keep it that way each time I wash it. Not quite as shiny as Tony's car, but moving that way - no dirt clinging to anything, so I think Quarantine will be okay.
Any thoughts on using anything to prevent fungal growth going through the tropics? Shipper tells me 24 days at sea from Dammam to Mel. Should I put a cover on it, as I have one handy?
TIA
jp