International Shipping

C

Colummcd

New Member
Joined
7 Mar 2008
Messages
10
Location
Belfast, N.Ireland
Visit site
Can anyone recomend a reliable (& cheap if theres such a thing) shiiping company for the transport of a boat from Florida to the UK.
Can you also tell me if £1500 is too much, just about right or cheap for getting a 20ft container shipped from the US to UK ?
Thanks
 
Last year I was quoted $8500 for shipping an Ericson 35 from Jacksonville to Tilbury. The price included a wooden cradle which I could keep and all paperwork, loading etc on the US side. If I remember correctly it included unloading this side, but all customs and any other costs were then mine.
Just out of interest are you importing the boat to the UK? I'm sure you've done your homework, but in case you have not, there are some very nasty surprises you can encounter.
I don't know if £1500 is a good price, but it does not sound too far out of the way to me.
Nicki
 
What size is your boat? The price is very much based on the size of the boat. I for one would go for a quotation that precludes as many "extra charges" as possible. Sure you will always have to pay the VAT and Duty, however get a quote that includes all other charges, it always works out much cheaper.

Nicki....... Please give more detail of the "very nasty surprises" that can be encountered. I am in the middle of an import and still looking around for the "landmines" to avoid.
 
GSL,
In a word, or rather an acronym, RCD.It is my understanding that there are many small motor boats which have been imported very cheaply from the US only to be impounded by, strangely, weights and measures, until such time as an RCD category is agreed upon. It is also my understanding that it is OK to go for lower category, but do you really want cat D for an A boat for example? Also the engine needs to carry a suitable CE mark. It is not impossible to do, but the reason I did not import the above Ericson 35 was that the cost differential US to UK was getting smaller and smaller, whilst I was struggling to find an exact cost for the whole project.
I hope this is of some us to you. My experience led me to the conclusion that the only really sensible way to buy a sailing boat in America for use here would be to sail it back. This then gives you 6 months before you have to either leave the EU or pay your VAT. More significantly, it allows you to get the relevant RCD paperwork together at your leisure as RCD only really seems to kick in when you sell the boat. One handy thing to bear in mind is that if you buy an EU built boat, built before 1996 it comes back classed as a re-import. Vat is still payable but RCD in not required.
Please do not take all I have said as absolute. Many of these laws are sufficiently new to not be fully 'tested' therefore future outcomes are hard to predict. The information above is correct to the best of my knowledge, but if I were to seriously consider importing a boat which would require shipping here, I would engage, or at least consult, a surveyor who is an import specialist.
Nicki
 
There are far too many ancilliary costs involved to be able to comment on whether or not £1500 is cheap or expensive - that's like asking is £1500 a good price for a car...
Best advice is to get a quote and use proper boat shipping experts, ( I recommend Peters and May, but no connection) you will get an accurate quote and an intact boat delivered to you. 'Cheap' shipping = long delays/extortionate 'extras' and a lottery as to the condition of the boat when it arrives with you.
 
The £1500 included hire of the container, loading and unloading the container, dock and shipping charges, something called line handling, customs clearing (but not import tax and VAT).
I was hoping to bring a 13 or 15FT aluminum Jon boat (no engine) over, not because its cheaper but because there doesn't seem to be any choice here. Yes I was aware of the RCD but because the boat is so basic (glorified punt / rowing boat) I might be able to self cert but I am still checking that out, anyway I got a quote to get it certified professionally if necessary and it was about £400.
 
Re shipping a 20' container, I would say that GBP 1,500 from the USA to the UK is reasonable - that is about what it costs to ship the same container from Florida to Barbados, which is a quarter of the distance!

I think that market forces and the rules of 'supply and demand' are significant here - for instance, because there are very few containers going TO China with cargo (most go back empty, and coming out of China full), the cost of sending a 20' loaded container from here to China, including a trans-shipment in the USA, is about US$ 1,500.
As some folk might say, 'Go figure' !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top