Shipping - Container vs RORO

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:52 am

Hi,

I'm considering importing my next project and would appreciate advice as to best shipping option. I've heard one of two horror stories of parts being stripped whilst vehicle waiting in docks or on route, etc.

The car would be a complete, rolling FHC coming from US (although also considering European options).

Quotes thus far suggest about ?500 difference between the two shipping options. So I'm probably worrying about nothing & should just go with the container option for peace of mind.

Any views / stories to help me decide ?

Regards,

Neil

MarkE · Post by **MarkE** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:08 am

I would definitely put it in a container Neil as there is then virtually no chance of the car being damaged or loosing bits.

Make sure that you understand all the costs once it gets to this end, which can add up. I had a 90kg box of motorcycle parts delivered from Canada just before Christmas, worth ?1000 and ?200 shipping. I thought I was getting door to door delivery, but it was only going to the docks at Tilbury.

I then had additional charges for Import Handling, Documentation Fee, DTI / Security Fee, Customs Clearance, Import VAT, Import Duty, Deferment Usage and Import Delivery (to my house). I still don't know what some of those are, but I was relieved of a further ?560 before getting my package.

So when you talk to the shippers about costs, make sure that all those bits are covered!

Durango2k · Post by **Durango2k** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:40 pm

Don't know about NL to UK, but I Imported some cars in recent years via Rotterdam, and it's VAT free.... Check how it is actually.

Carsten

mike837go · Post by **mike837go** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 2:59 pm

Hey! Whoa! Slow down there..

You planning on poaching E-Types from The U.S.A.?

You Brits 'stole' an entire Brooklyn warehouse full of cars and parts last Fall and now you are coming back for more whole cars.

I say enough!

Just because some jerks here call them "XKE" doesn't mean you can take all of your toys back home.

MarkE · Post by **MarkE** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:23 pm

We finally paid off the lend / lease fees after WW2 a couple of years ago, so now we're getting all our cars back....seems fair to me!

We've just about cleared out the West coast and Texas, so now we're going for the restoration cases and parts cars on the East coast.

Enjoy your Mustangs and Corvettes!

ernie · Post by **ernie** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:40 pm

mike837go wrote:Hey! Whoa! Slow down there..

You planning on poaching E-Types from The U.S.A.?

You Brits 'stole' an entire Brooklyn warehouse full of cars and parts last Fall and now you are coming back for more whole cars.

I say enough!

Just because some jerks here call them "XKE" doesn't mean you can take all of your toys back home.

Well look at it as if we are saving them from having V8s transplanted into them. Anyway most of them havent been driven for years....so we are adopting them :o

mike837go · Post by **mike837go** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:56 pm

Yeah, yeah, yeah...

"Repatriating"

Like what's-his-name and his daughter. A multi-million-dollar hoard shipped 'home' in 3 containers. Custodial parents call it "kidnapping".

We bought the cars and spare parts all fair-and-square. Even paid import duties on most of it.

Now you get to sell it back to us again.

Gotta love capitalism.

abowie · Post by **abowie** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:46 pm

neil4444 wrote:
Any views / stories to help me decide ?

Regards,

Neil

Personally I would only consider a locked sealed container.

David Oslo · Post by **David Oslo** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:54 am

I have actually used both container and ro-ro during 2014. Both originated from New Jersey. The door to door cost including differences in insurance and brokerage ended up within a hundred pounds. So basically the same all-in cost.

I have heard of and seen container cars that have been walked over in order to get to the rear tie down points. Scary. My container was shared with another car going to same destination and thus my car waited for several weeks on the docks in NJ until the other car arrived. Nothing stolen or damaged.

If anything I had a much better shipping appraisal of minor damage, scratches, dings and blemishes prior to shipping on the container car than on the roro car. But that may be more due to freight broker and insurance forms that the freight method.

If doing it again I would chose shared container.

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 1:59 pm

If anyone has experience of container shipping TO the USA (I've done RoRo the other direction twice) I'd be interested to hear. I'll need to ship my D later this year I hope. If anyone wants to share a 40-footer it might be cheaper than two twenties although I guess unlike trucks there are no such things as dead-headers returning empty to base :-(

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 2:32 pm

Thanks all, I have inevitably decided on container shipping so appreciate all the advice.

Next question, the shippers have referred me to another freight company on the UK side to handle the arrival. I had somewhat expected I just had a bit of form filling to do & duty payments to make then just turn up & collect. Is there more to it than this as I feel I'm being pressured into something that may not be necessary ?

Regards,

David Oslo · Post by **David Oslo** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 3:29 pm

I am not UK based, but would expect it's the same sort of setup as I had.

On my container shipping I was dealing with the US office of an international shipper (Schumacher Cargo) in terms of the actual sea freight, insurance, pick-up from seller's house (e.g. flatbed truck for 200 miles), for the container packing and securing, also the US port fees and export duties. One bill.

Then upon arrival in Norway I was contacted by Schumachers agent (a completely different small company local to the docks) who then handled the container unpacking and my VAT payments. Bill number 2.

I could then drive the car home on "trade plates", check it over and prepare it for it's import-MOT test. Trade plates again, up to government MOT centre, pass the test, then got a bill for "car tax". Bill 3. Pay that and collect plates.

The bill 3 part may of course be different when in the UK, but I would expect the bill 1 and bill 2 parts to be roughly as I had. I did get the option of paying the VAT myself, but for the sake of a ?50 fee to the office I avoided a pile of government offices and stamps.

When doing my ro-ro the system was reversed in manner, given that I used a local (Norwegian) shipping expeditor. They handled all the pick up, loading, docks x2, VAT etc. So I got bill 1 & 2 combined.

My experience is that the shipping companies are very helpful in explaining the process, which does seem complicated at first, but having doing it a few times now, it's a breeze. All part of the fun of importing a car.

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 3:32 pm

Hi David,

Perfect, many thanks for your advice. Just what I was after.

Regards,

Neil

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:25 am

So here she is, the new project....

As you can see, a few issues to sort out but essentially a rolling restoration this time around. I may even keep the wide wheels & flared arches for a while & use her for a run around until I decide on my restoration approach.

MarkE · Post by **MarkE** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:57 am

I rather like that Neil, and it reminds me very much of the E Types in the 60s and 70s, many of which had some sort of modification. Some worked and some didn't, and I think that yours is subtle enough to work well. In fact the flairs on the front look quite similar to those on the the S3. There are a couple of cars like yours that get to Prescott every year with similar mods that get a lot of positive attention.

The world is full of bog standard E Types.....dare to be different!

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:17 am

Thanks Mark.
Tempted though I am to retain the flared arches it would leave me with a bit of a dilemma. An S2 bonnet has been fitted at some stage and I want to get back to S1 aesthetics. So either I replace with an S1 bonnet & lose the flares (then have to address the rear wings too) or perhaps I'll look at one of the headlight conversion kits. Plus I still have the small matter of the OTS to finish first :D

paydase · Post by **paydase** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:14 am

When looking at these flared arches, I realise how marvelously balanced the design of the original E-Type was, with the subtle coverage of the wheels.

That entails accepting rather slim wheels, which is perceived as outdated by some, but this is how it should be IMHO!

MarkE · Post by **MarkE** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:44 am

I think that most folks would agree with you nowadays, Serge, but back in the day when the cars were cheap 2nd hand fun machines, they were often modified, and very often quite badly! But Neil's car has had pretty gentle flairs let in, unlike some of the monstrosities I've seen on US ebay. Of course in putting the S2 bonnet back to S1 spec, then I guess that most of us would go back to standard all over.

But consider that Jaguar thought that the E Type lent itself well to subtle flared arches when they designed the S3, and many agree that it looks very good. It gives a more purposeful and even more aggressive look, something that many commented on when looking at my S1 and S3 standing side by side.

nefematic · Post by **nefematic** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:52 am

Neil,
I've had cars shipped a few times, both ro-ro and container. The agent contacted me once and asked if it was ok to go container instead of ro-ro, same price, and I agreed. All went well but I would not do it again in that way. I later found out what they do is put in two layers of cars into one container. I read about these multilayers crashing in transit, but also the climbing around on the bottom cars to get everthing in. More often than not these are american serviced cars that leak everlasting, so the bottom cars might just show up soiled at port. Its cheaper for the agent to get it shipped in this manner. I would not do ot again, unless I have no doubt the car couldn't be messed up more than it already is anyway. If your getting a nice car, an expensive one, pay up for single loaded 20ft Container door to door. I think that would be the safest way to go. On one car I found out it was two weeks in a train freight train car in Texas going to port of dept. Like said, I myself didn't experience the horrorstories, but they do exist. They messed up my right side door panel on the E-Type and managed to somehow tear out the rear persplex window from the hardtop.
Good luck,
Martin

neil4444 · Post by **neil4444** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:03 pm

Thanks Martin, I went for the 20ft single loaded container option in the end.

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