Transport to New Zealand

[pshipley]

Our paperwork has finally come through for our planned migration to NZ. After months of badgering, Mrs Boss has finally conceded and is allowing me to keep my beloved Oceanis 50. But she draws the line at letting me sail down.

So what is the best, nay, best at a reasonable price way of getting the boat from Turkey to NZ. Looking for recommendations of companies, pitfall to avoid, things to take into account etc.

Thanks

Phil

 

[Tranona]

If you google Shipping Yachts you will get plenty of contacts for quotes - firms such as Peters and May who specialise in shipping yachts all over the world.

It will have to go deck cargo on a cradle and I doubt you will get anything regular direct from Turkey to NZ. Also be prepared for mega bucks. I had quotes for a 37 footer from Athens to Southampton. £12k plus £1k for cradle - and that is a regular service.

Your alternative is to have a professional crew deliver the boat. To give you an idea, that is what I have chosen - £3400 plus fuel and berthing. Downside, of course is wear and tear plus the risk of going through dodgy waters such as the Red Sea. However, you could do all or part of the trip yourself which reduces the cost by one crew.

Assume you have looked into the requirements to import the boat into NZ - don't know what they are but do know that it is difficult and expensive in Oz.

Hope this helps.

 

[davidej]

Are you sure this is a wise decision?

As one who has emigrated to the Antipodes and years later returned, I recommend selliing assets with high transport costs and re-investing when established over there.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

don't know what they are but do know that it is difficult and expensive in Oz.

Hope this helps.

Really? I would have expected it to be cheap given the size of Oz in relation to the pop.

 

[mikehibb]

I too would think that perhaps better to sell where you are and buy when you get there.

There are a few specialists transporters, that big Russian ship for example the float on float off one (not the oil rig transporter) the one that is a dry dock ship that regularly does the USA to Med run and back, I guess that it also goes to ther places too.

The other idea of a cradle is good, but you need to manage to intercept the main freighter routes. There is a big hub in Italy. My car was shipped from UK to Georgia port of Poti. Everything that comes into the Med heading east of Italy or to Black sea trans-ships through there. Might be an Idea to investigate getting the boat to Italy (sorry I forget the name of the container/sea freight port/hub, but guess you can google it) all you would be doing is hitting this route on the reverse trip. Must be some Oz/NZ freighters coming this way and back.

That is all the practical help I can offer.

You could however save some shiping costs by down sizing, I might be prepared to swap my 33fter in Turkey for your 50. Just to save you some shipping costs of course, as I am a good bloke.

Best of luck what ever you choose, and hope you enjoy the new life in NZ to the full.

One last tip, but as your boat is in Turkey I guess that you might already know it. A nice sprinkle of Cumin on those NZ lamb chops on the BBQ mmmmm.......

 

[Tranona]

Really? I would have expected it to be cheap given the size of Oz in relation to the pop.

I was talking about the regulations. I don't know the details, but imports into NZ are controlled and they have traditionally high duties. They also have stringent safety regulations for yachts - remember the fuss a few years ago when they tried to impose their safety regulations on visiting boats?

Just flagging it up for the OP, but I assume he is doing his homework.

 

[pshipley]

I've checked on the duty and GST/VAT front and as I am moving there permanently there is nothing to pay, provided I keep her for 2 years after importation. I am surprised about the safety regulations, will need to explore that more, thanks for the heads up.

Will still have to pay for customs clearance etc and I hear they are a stickler for cleanliness, being paranoid about bio-security, so almost certainly will have to pay for fumigation, a hull clean etc.

I have had 2 quotes already - one for the 'sail on/sail off' partially submersible - for which they wanted an arm, a leg and my first born.

The 2nd was for a cradle on deck, for which they only wanted the arm and leg.

Swapping for a 33ft is maybe an option as then it would fit in a 40ft container and the price is considerably reduced. But if I was prepared to swap my beloved then I might as well sell her and rebuy down under.

I make no representations that this project makes sense financially, just about everyone, shipping agents excluded, has advised me to sell, but sometimes the heart has to overrule the head.

I hadn't really though of a professional crew for the reasons mentioned - although if anyone does fancy a short jaunt down under PM me!!!!!

 

[Tranona]

I am surprised about the safety regulations, will need to explore that more, thanks for the heads up.

I expect your boat will comply with most of them. The issue was that local registration requirements require minimum safety equipment such as radios, EPIRBS, liferafts etc if a NZ registered vessel goes off shore. As you may know many registers, including the UK have no such requirements. Under the UN Resolution, coastal states respect the registration requirements of flag states for visitors under the legal concept of comity. NZ tried to detain foreign flagged vessels from leaving NZ waters without complying with local regs. As you can imagine many of the "bluewater" brigade were not happy with this. Eventually NZ backed down under pressure. However, their local regulations still stand for NZ registered boats.

The relief from taxes and duties is common for people taking up residence - similar rules apply for those taking up residence in the EU.

Good luck with your venture - whatever you decide.

 

[RichardTaylor]

2 companies who are "specialist" yacht shipping agents are Premier Shipping and Packing ( www.psap.co.uk - sponsors of SIBS) and Peters & May. If you havent contacted them it might be worth a call.

(no connection with either, other than occasionally being a customer of PSP)

 

[mawm]

My recollection, from the time I migrated to NZ, is that there is no tax on personal possesions. If your boat does not come in with all your other stuff, I would think that you would need to make some arrangement with NZ Customs.

Of course if you bring your yacht in this way it will be a NZ registered vessel (although there is no mandatory register) and is subject to their safety regulations. Cat. 1 (off-shore) requires the full Monty as determined by a Cat 1 inspector, if you do off-shore racing there are a different set of requirements, otherwise for coastal cruising all you are legally required to do is provide 1 suitable life jacket for each person on the boat. After all it is every New Zealanders inalienable right to go out and drown themselves.

I know of a guy who bought a Benny in Italy and sailed it to Panama the first season and then did the 'milk run' to NZ the next. This is the second boat that he has brought in this way to sell for profit.

Locally manufactured boats are relatively expensive when compared to the cost of those mass produced by the big shipyards, but are well built and there is an active market.

I hope this helps.