Anyone ever ship goods overseas in container?

Free Republic ^ | 02/15/2016 | Oshkalaboomboom

[Oshkalaboomboom]

We are shipping 2 cars and some household goods to Spain in a 40 foot container. Have any of you ever shipped goods in this manner and, if you did, did you purchase maritime insurance? From reading the contract it sounds like the shipping company is responsible for the goods until they are loaded then the maritime insurance covers if goods get damaged in a storm or the ship sinks. I don't hear about many container ships sinking. Is it worth it to buy this insurance? Are there companies besides the one we are using that offer this type of insurance? We would at least like to compare rates if we have to buy it. Thanks.

[Malsua]

I have been involved in shipping at least 100 containers of industrial equipment all over the world in the past 15 years.(I’ve helped open and close a handful of factories).

Whoever packs it, needs to do it right. The ships rocks back and forth for weeks. Anything that isn’t secured properly will come loose. Anything that is exposed steel will rust. Temperatures inside the containers can often reach 150+ degrees.

I was often there when the containers were sealed and there when they were open thousands of miles away on a different continent. The conditions were NEVER the same despite the ample strapping, blocking and padding we used. Something always moved, despite the best effort to prevent it.

If the people packing it don’t know what they’re doing, whatever you ship will be damaged when it arrives.

[cornfedcowboy]

BTW-I have shipped approx 150 containers holding heavy equipment. Approx 15% are damaged. Especially the heavy stuff. Things shift in unloading and loading along with the journey. Containers get banged around a lot.

[showme_the_Glory]

I bought my 65 mustang from my sister when she lived in Hawaii and had it shipped in a container back to Portland.

Did it have a heater? A friend of mine bought a 68 Mustang in Hawaii and it didn't have a heater.

[wagglebee]

Take their advice, it's worth the money.

[minnesota_bound]

Anyone ever ship goods overseas in container?
It is how I got rid of Louie...... permanently.

[wagglebee]

Also, depending where you are shipping from it should cost $3-5k total.

[sergeantdave]

I recommend wearing casual clothing while in the container. Take along a change of socks as shipping companies don’t offer that amenity. Carry a seven-lb log splitter for killing big rats, and a shotgun for shooting sharks and giant squid when the ship sinks.

Unless you’ve reserved a refrigerated container, don’t pack perishable food like TV dinners, T-bone steaks and foie gras. MD 20-20 is okay as that stuff will survive any climatic conditions, including global warming.

A fowling piece will provide you with plenty of meat, as ducks are common around bodies of water and will certainly follow shipping vessels, looking for minnows that are thrown from the ship’s exhaust pipes.

You may want to wall off part of the container for crazy uncles or liberal in-laws. The shipping firm will provide metal barriers for that. Insurance for them is not recommended.

A TV is not necessary for entertainment while making passage. The crew will show the movie Jaws continuously. Other entertainment may include Somali pirates shooting at you. Get insurance for that. Carry along a SEAL team if you have room in the container; otherwise, learn how to chuck spears or grenades - whatever you’re comfortable with.

[Chickensoup]

And sometimes they slip off the ship.

[shotgun]

Yeah. My dad bought it for her in Portland for HS graduation, then she got married and her husband was stationed at Schofield Barracks. I bought it from her 3 years later.

[wardaddy]

Wagglebee is right

Hire a freight forwarder

I take it you’re moving

Have you thought about renting furnished and buying or leasing transport there?

Sounds like fun though

Enjoy

I spent most of the 80s and early 90s outside USA

Single though

Taking the family would be fun too though

[wagglebee]

Have you thought about renting furnished and buying or leasing transport there?

I agree.

If it's something you consider "irreplaceable" (family heirlooms, etc.), you are crazy to ship it in the first place, there is ALWAYS a significant (10%+) chance of damage or loss when shipping overseas. That's just the way it is.

By the time you take into account the cost to get the stuff there and then to get it back in a few years, it starts making less sense to take it with you.. If the cars are just ordinary cars, sell them and buy something overseas. Same with furniture and household goods. By the way, if you have a loan on the cars you need to check with the finance company because you probably aren't permitted to take them out of the country.

[russdawg]

Has anyone ever bought a car or truck in Japan and had it shipped to the U.S.? I would like to buy a right hand drive land cruiser and get it over here. anyone ever pulled that off?

[wagglebee]

I've heard of servicemen bringing cars back from Japan after being stationed there. But I'm not sure the ins and outs of going there and buying a car.

You might want to think about the US or British Virgin Islands (US has right hand drive), the Cayman Islands or Bahamas. It would be a lot easier to go there and see the vehicle and much cheaper to ship it back. Plus, everything would be in English.

[wagglebee]

Also, if you would consider it, older British Land Rovers (the cool ones from the 60s and 70s) with right hand drive are fairly easy to find here in the US.