It is not easy to find a reliable yacht shipping company able to transport your yacht or sailboat from US overseas in the most economical and safe manner. There are many yacht transportation companies claiming to have expertise and experience to ship various types of oversized high and heavy cargoes, such as yachts and sailboats, from United States to any destination worldwide. What to look for when picking a yacht transporter, and which shipping company to choose? Make sure to read the below boat shipping guide so you don’t make a costly mistake.
Boat shipping checklist:
- Prepare your boat or yacht for overseas shipping. If necessary, seek help at the local marina, yard, cradle company etc. You can find boat preparation guide on our website.
- Measuring your boat or yacht correctly is essential for obtaining an accurate boat shipping quote, be it international boat shipping or domestic yacht transport. Make sure to read our boat measuring guide.
- Verify if the boat transport company you are going to use for boat delivery to the port via land is registered with DOT here.
- Confirm that the yacht transporter has current cargo insurance, with minimum liability exceeding value of your boat.
- If arranging a water delivery, check credentials and previous experience of the Captain whose services your are using.
- If shipping a boat internationally, check with Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) if your boat shipper is registered with FMC as a freight forwarder or non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC). Also verify if this particular boat shipping company has current bond and shipping license. If the company is not listed there, it means they cannot legally provide shipping services whatsoever and you should avoid using such companies.
- Many marine cargo insurance companies require the boat surveyed & appraised prior to shipping. Make sure to get your yacht surveyed by a licensed marine surveyor.
- Avoid using domestic boat hauling companies for shipping your yacht or boat internationally. Many truckers will offer their customers a “package deal” that includes inland yacht transport and ocean freight of your yacht overseas. Frequently they would offer “savings” and “discount” through their preferred boat shippers. You should avoid using such companies by all means – international yacht shipping is complicated and requires expertise and experience only a licensed freight forwarder or NVOCC can offer.
- Before committing to shipping your boat internationally with the boat transporter of your choice, make sure to get the shipping quote in writing. Read the fine print – many boat transport companies will hide extra charges behind it. Make sure the quote includes the following: origin (shippers door or port), destination (consignee’s door, port or unloading warehouse). Also, typical boat shipping quote must clearly outline services tendered – door pick up, delivery to a certain place (point of export, be it transporter’s warehouse, port or dock), marine shipping insurance, shrink-wrapping, cradle construction (fumigated or not), de-masting, arch & radar removal, loading, unloading at the port of destination, all necessary paperwork, customs clearance, export declaration, bill of lading, etc.
- If possible, get a Shipping Contract drafted between you and the Shipping Company – it should include all of the above in more formal way, on shipper’s letterhead, signed and dated by authorized person.
- Ask if there will be someone (an agent, or customs broker) who could assist with customs clearance and unloading at the country of destination. Also, do your homework on customs duties and taxes that may be due at the country you are shipping the boat to.
- Do an internet search for reviews on a particular boat shipping company. There are specific websites, such as www.Ripoffreport.com that may be worth checking.
- Make sure to dial the boat transporter’s telephone number found on company’s website and talk to your customer service rep in person. If your calls are left unanswered, or you cannot get straight answers on shipping and arrival dates, transit times, specific requirements for shipping a boat overseas, you should probably look for another boat shipping company.
- Always use your common sense (i.e., beware of making payments in advance via Western Union or cash, sending important paperwork (titles, payment) via regular mail, etc).
We hope that you’ve found this boat shipping guide useful.
Feel free to contact us for a free consultation or no-obligation boat shipping quote.
562-394-1144 / 888-830-1370
Are you shipping a car internationally and are worried if your car transporter is a legit vehicle shipping company, or just a car shipping broker trying to make a quick buck? Don’t ship your vehicle overseas without reading this short guide!
There are too many things that can go wrong when shipping a car internationally – the vehicle can get stranded at the port due to incorrectly filed paperwork, seized by customs on either end, damaged or even taken into possession by a car shipping company via lien sale. There are many horror stories about shipping companies holding customer’s vehicle hostage until outrageous storage charges are paid, container sitting at the port due forwarder’s negligence or unpaid shipping charges etc.
Don’t let any of it happen to you. Don’t be a victim of car shipping scams! Hopefully, below few tips will help you to find a small reliable car shipping company with high safety record that is ready to do business with you.
10 Things to do before shipping a car internationally:
- Verify if the car shipping company you are going to use is registered with DOT (for domestic auto transport). DOT website can be found here.
- Confirm the car transporter has current cargo insurance, with minimum liability exceeding value of your car.
- If shipping a car internationally, check with Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) if your car shipper is registered with FMC as a freight forwarder or non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC). Also verify if this particular car shipping company has current bond and shipping license. If the company is not listed there, it means they cannot legally provide shipping services whatsoever and you should avoid using such companies.
- Avoid using domestic car trucking companies for international car shipping. Many truckers will offer their customers a “package deal” that includes car transport and overseas car shipping as well. Frequently they would offer “savings” and “discount” through their preferred car shippers. You should avoid using such companies by all means – international car shipping is complex, and often customers, after paying to the trucker for “the whole package” end up paying extra fees to the actual car shipping company.
- Before committing to shipping your car internationally with the car transporter of your choice, make sure to get the shipping quote in writing. Read the fine print – many car shippers will hide extra charges behind it. Make sure the quote includes the following: origin (shippers door or port), destination (consignee’s door, port or unloading warehouse). Also, typical car shipping quote must clearly outline services tendered – door pick up, delivery to a certain place (point of export, be it transporter’s warehouse, port or dock), marine shipping insurance, shrink-wrapping (boats), crating (motorcycles), loading, fumigation, container drayage, all necessary paperwork, customs clearance, export declaration, bill of lading, etc.
- If possible, get a Shipping Contract drafted between you and shipping company – it should include all of the above in more formal way, on shipper’s letterhead, signed and dated by authorized person.
- Ask if there will be someone (an agent, or customs broker) who could assist with customs clearance and unloading at the country of destination. Also, do your homework on customs duties and taxes that may be due at the country you are shipping the vehicle to.
- Do an internet search for reviews on a particular shipping company. There are specific websites, such as www.Ripoffreport.com that may be worth checking.
- Make sure to dial the auto transporter’s telephone number found on company’s website and talk to your customer service rep in person. If your calls are left unanswered, or you cannot get straight answers on shipping and arrival dates, transit times, specific requirements for shipping a vehicle overseas, you should probably look for another car shipping company.
- Always use your common sense (i.e., beware of making payments in advance via Western Union or cash, sending important paperwork (titles, payment) via regular mail, etc).
We hope you’ve found this small car shipping guide useful.
As always, we are here to help – please, call or email us if you have any questions or need information on international car shipping.
USAC International Shipping vehicle export team
888-950-4454
Due to the continuing depreciation of US dollar and lack of space on ocean freight vessels we are experiencing a rising demand for the export of cars via air. In spite of higher airfreight shipping costs, transporting vehicles via air has certain advantages over shipping vehicles via ocean freight. While transit time for most destinations via ocean freight ranges from 2 to 8 weeks (not including waiting time for space on the vessel, loading, pick up, customs clearance etc), transit time for air freight service is only 3-5 days for most destinations.
Vehicle export process via air freight can be complicated due to requirements on title paperwork, hazardous declaration, inspections, vehicle preparation, cut-off times etc. This is where USAC Airfreight fits into the equation with expertise in this area! We have flown hundreds of cars, trucks, bikes, military vehicles and more. Experience and competitive rates is what sets us apart from other air freight companies. Let the professionals handle shipping of your automobile via air!
Whichever preference, be it cars, exotic or collectible vehicles, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, - we can help! We have an extensive experience in providing airfreight services for all types vehicles from any point in the US to all major airports overseas. Our services include:
- Contacting the seller / shipper in the US on your behalf and making necessary arrangements for shipping the vehicle via air:
- Checking vehicle ownership papers paperwork – title, commercial invoice, bill of sale, packing list etc,
- Vehicle air freight preparation requirements for airfreight (gas level, alarm, etc)
- Motorcycle air freight preparation (draining the gas tank, fluids, crating, shrink-wrapping etc)
- Arranging the pickup and delivery to one of our 11 international gateways throughout the country (enclosed vehicle pickups, open car carrier, flatbed, antique and exotic vehicles, luxury cars, custom automobiles, motorcycles, choppers etc)
- Vehicle customs clearance in the airport of departure
- Preparing all necessary paperwork (hazardous declaration, commercial invoice, packing list etc)
- Maintaining close contact with shippers, consignees, truckers and airlines to ensure smooth and flawless shipping of your precious vehicle to its final destination
For quote, please complete the online request, send us an email at airfreight@usacinternationalshipping.com , or call 888-830-1370 – we are always here to help with all your vehicle shipping needs!
The House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime will hold a hearing Wednesday on whether there is sufficient ship capacity to serve U.S.
foreign trade.
The subcommittee is planning another hearing next week on the “state of United States’ merchant fleet in foreign commerce.”
Wednesday’s hearing is because of anecdotal evidence and media reports that “suggest that the ability of the United States to expand export levels is threatened by the lack of vessel capacity and regional shortages within the United States of the containers in which many goods are now shipped,” the subcommittee said.
Lidinsky
Capacity limitations could significantly impact President Obama’s National Export Initiative that seeks to double exports over the next five years, it said.
U.S. export demand has rose, particularly towards the end of 2009, due to the weakened U.S. dollar and Asia’s continued economic growth. An imbalance between increased exports and sharply lower imports created a container shortage in some U.S. markets. “As global credit markets began to ease and the U.S. economy began to rebound, the issue of a container shortage became more pronounced in late 2009,” the subcommittee said.
TSA renews call for rate hikes
Member carriers in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said Monday they will continue to pressure shippers for $800 per 40-foot container rate hikes to the U.S. West Coast during ongoing service contract negotiations.
The TSA held chief executive officer-level meetings in Taipei last week and “reiterated their support for the recommended TSA guideline rate increases,” which also includes a hike of $1,000 per 40-foot container for cargo moving to U.S. East and Gulf coasts, as well as U.S. interior points, via all-water or intermodal services.
The lines have taken heat from shippers for their concerted effort to raise rates this year to what carriers consider sustainable levels. At a recent container shipping event in Southern California, shippers seemed most upset with the pace at which carriers were trying to increase rates (not to mention that shippers were being asked to accept slower transit times and insufficient active capacity as rates spiked).
But in its message Monday, the TSA said rates are still nowhere near where they need to be.
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