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Shipping Cars, Boats, Motorcycles etc in Containers
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  1. What is the difference between shipping cars from the USA in containers and Ro-Ro?
  2. Surcharges in Sea Freight (or Ocean Freight)
  3. What is GRI (General Rates Increase)?
  4. What is Container Yard (CY)?
  5. Types of International Transportation Companies
  6. What is the "Live Load" and "Drop and Pick"?
  7. What is FOB?
  8. What is the sea freight Bill of Lading?
  9. What is SED (Shippers Export Declaration)?
  10. Essential shipping documents used in the Sea freight industry
  11. HOW DOES IT WORK STEP BY STEP?
  12. How www.cars-oceanfreightusa.com relates to www.OceanFreightUSA.com?
  13. Can I INSURE my car for the ocean freight shipment?
  14. ISPM 15 RULES - Wood packing restrictions in the sea freight
  15. Payment options
  16. Add-in to General Terms and Conditions for exporting cars (other motor vehicles) from the USA

1. What is the difference between shipping cars from the USA in containers and Ro-Ro?

Cars (and other types of motor vehicles: trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, ATV’s) can be exported from the USA by sea by using:

This FAQ page mostly relates to shipping cars from the USA in single sole owned OR consolidated with other vehicles multimodal sea freight containers. It generally does not apply to Ro-Ro shipments.

The essential difference between FCL and Ro-Ro sea freight service is:

  • Using FCL ocean freight service on shipping cars from the USA, FCL ocean freight rules and procedures applies. I.e. you in fact ship not a vehicle, but an entire (or share with other shippers an entire) FCL multimodal seafreight container containig vehicles. Plus U.S. Customs requirements on motor vehicles titles validation apply.
     
    Sea freight charges will be based on shipping an FCL container plus charges and fees related to loading, securing cars in the container and passing U.S. Customs to the export.
  • With Ro-Ro (Roll On/Roll Off) sea freight service you actually ship a vehicle.
     
    Sea freight charges will be based on the overall volume of your vehicle. Plus charges and fees for ocean freight carrier pier passing (THC) and motor vehicle(s) title validation with U.S. Customs to the export.

For more details you may visit this web page of our corporate web site -- http://www.oceanfreightusa.com/ser_veh.php

 

2. Surcharges in Sea Freight (or Ocean Freight)

Total Sea Freight (or Ocean Freight) offered in a price quote should include SURCHARGES added to Basic Sea Freight (or Ocean Freight).

  • Basic Sea Freight (or Ocean Freight) or BAS - It is the cost of the sea freight from port to port. Typically reflects BAS in our contracts with Steamship Lines and valid within one calendar year unless amendments in contracts are occurred.
  • BAF or Bunker Adjustment Factor - Fuel surcharge. It reflects changes of price of oil on the world market. In our sea freight contracts typically changes quarterly.
  • Origin Inland Add-on – If a Container Yard (CY) is in a landlocked city then it is the price of containers delivery from the CY to a seaport of sail.
  • SEO - Security Charge at Origin
  • MAR - MARPOL Surcharge
  • DOC - Outbound Documentation Fee
  • CSC - Container Service Charge
  • DCX - Inbound Documentation Fee
  • SEC - Security Charge at Destination

 

3. What is GRI (General Rates Increase)?

GRI (General Rates Increase) is the average amount by which Carriers (International Transportation Companies) tariff rates increase. It reflects price changes on the International Cargo Transportation by Sea Market. Typically GRI apply on contract rates once a year at the end of contract. However, in to carrier-to-carrier co-load agreements GRI may apply at a time when prices on the market change.

 

4. What is Container Yard (CY)?

In respect of FCL freight a Sea Port Container Yard (CY) is a facility at which FCL traffic and empty containers are received from or delivered to the consignee by or on behalf of the sea freight carrier. It is the place at which loaded and empty multimodal sea freight containers are accepted for loading onboard ships and the off-loading, releases, storing, assembling and holding.

If it is a landlocked Container Yard at Origin, then it also used for transfers of containers to sea ports CY. A Destination Sea Port CY may also used (if necessary) for containers transfer to landlocked CYs, which are closer to places of cargo off-loads and empty containers return to the carrier.

Synonym: Marshalling Yard.

5. Types of International Transportation Companies

Refer to this link 

 

6. What is the "Live Load" and "Drop and Pick"?

In respect of using our Online FCL Ocean Freight Price Calculator, Sea Freight (Option A) does NOT include cost of inland container(s) pre-carriage to a place of load. Ocean Freight is the price for container(s) transfer between seafreight carriers Container Yards only.

Option B in our Online FCL Ocean Freight Price Calculator provides complete shipping cost / FOB including a price of inland container(s) pre-carriage to a place of load at origin (in the USA).

There are two methods of seafreight containers stuffing at a time of loads: ‘Live Load’ (The default option in our online price quote) and ‘Drop and Pick’ (Not always available. ‘Drop and Pick’ must be re-requested separately upon receipt a ‘Live Load’ freight price quote).

A 'LIVE LOAD' - An International Transportation Company's driver should get a sea freight container to your place of load. Then he/she will wait until you load, secure and seal the container for the international shipment. There is a free loading time limit for live loads. It may vary from one to two hours. If you exceed the free time limit, then there will be a fee of approximately $75 per hour for each additional hour of loading time.

A 'DROP AND PICK' - An International Transportation Company's driver should deliver a sea freight container to your place of load. Then he/she will leave the ocean freight container for a few days. After it is loaded it will be picked up and returned to the international transportation company's container yard (CY).

Note: 'Drop and Pick' may cost approximately twice as much as 'Live load'. However, with 'Drop and Pick' the shipper takes his/her time on the loading of sea freight containers.

If your place of load is near the container yard of an International Transportation Company then the cost with 'Drop and Pick' should not be much higher than with 'Live load'. The added shipping expense might be worth incurring due to not having the time constrains of loading and securing the ocean freight container. However, if you are located a good distance from International Transportation Company’s container yard, it is possible that a 'Live load' will be the only option available.

NOTICE: By default our Online Sea freight Price Calculator provides price quotes for ‘Live Load’ only (the option B).

If you need a 'Drop and Pick' then write about that in the 'Comments and Questions' field on the bottom of our online booking form of at a time of booking your shipment via our Online Sea freight Price Calculator.

 

7. What is FOB?

FOB - Free on Board - is an Incoterms term. Incoterms are not actually transportations, but trade terms that are widely used in the International Trade practice (particularly in the Sea Freight industry) to indicate responsibility and ownership of goods when it is transmitting from seller to buyer.

Note: By this topic we do not intend to provide a definition of the Incoterms abbreviation - (FOB), but rather to provide the meaning as that may apply when you are dealing with US Freight Forwarder (an International Transportation Company) on ocean freight shipments.

FOB -- Free On Board, in respect of sea freight, means that freight forwarder's responsibilities are limited by setting up a shipment at the origin and, upon its sailing to the destination to issue to the shipper a Bill of Lading (the title on shipped goods).

I.e. for shipments on FOB, after goods had been submitted to the direct ocean freight carrier at the origin, loaded on board of vessel, sailed from the origin and entered in the destination county's Commerce zone (i.e. reached the destination) all cargo recovery formalities are the consignee's responsibilities. All destination charges related to the recovery of goods at the destination are on account of the consignee.

IMPORTANT!: Our Online Sea freight Shipping System reflects sea freight service based on FOB.

FYI: You may also find useful these main terms for conventional sea freight:

  • BASIC FREIGHT - It is the cost of the sea freight from port to port.
  • LINER TERMS - Or freight rate; conditions under which shipping companies transport goods. The freight is inclusive of carriage and cost of cargo handling at the loading and discharging ports.
  • F.I.O.S. - Free In Out and Stowed; the freight rate excludes the costs of carriage and of cargo handling at the loading and discharging ports.
  • F.I.L.O. - Free In, Liner Out; the freight is inclusive of the cost of cargo discharging. It does not include the cost of loading.
  • L.I.F.O. - Liner In, Free Out; the freight is inclusive of the cost of cargo loading. It does not includes the cost of discharging.
  • F.I.S.L.O. - Free In and Stowed, Liner Out; the freight is inclusive of the cost of cargo discharging. It does not include the cost of stowage and of cargo loading.
  • ALL IN - All Inclusive; the costs are all inclusive in the freight.

 

8. What is the sea freight Bill of Lading?

In respect of Sea Freight (International Cargo transportation by Sea) a Bill of Lading (also referred as a B/L or BOL) is a document issued by an Ocean Freight Carrier acknowledging that specified goods have been received on board as cargo for conveyance to a named place for delivery to the consignee.

Besides other points related to an international shipment by sea an Ocean Freight Bill of Lading serves the following purposes:

  1. It is an evidence of a contract of carriage between an ocean freight carrier and shipper;
  2. It is a receipt for goods shipped by an International Transportation Company;
  3. It is a document of title on shipped goods.

There are different types of ocean freight bill of ladings used by International Transportation Companies for export and import goods from and to US.

TWO MOST COMMONLY USED TYPES OF NON-NEGOTIABLE SEA FREIGHT BILL OF LADINGS:

  • Express release ocean freight bill of lading = Telex release = Surrender and;
  • Release endorsed upon providing a set of originals sea freight bill of ladings.

A NON-NEGOTIABLE sea freight bill of lading means that the document itself does not give title to the goods. The consignee (recipient of cargo) named in the ocean freight bill of lading must identify himself to claim the goods.

A NEGOTIABLE sea freight bill of lading Vs. NON-NEGOTIABLE issued “to the order of” is the title of the goods. I.e. the ocean freight bill of lading can be bought, sold or traded as goods are in transit.

EXPRESS RELEASE Seafreight bill of lading means that the consignee does not have to provide a set originals of Bill of Ladings in order to claim his/her goods at the destination. Sea freight shipments on express release (telex released) should be released at the destination upon surrender a copy of the ocean freight bill of lading. Express release B/L should contain the following statement -- “ZERO (0) – NO ORIGINALS REQUIRED FOR RELEASE”.

If a Seafreight bill of lading states “SET OF ORIGINAL REQUIRED”, then that means that goods cannot be released to the consignee unless the consignee had surrendered a set of originals ocean freight bill of ladings.

Find more about Seafreight bill of ladings used in ocean freight by International Transportation Companies in this link.

COPY OF SEA FREIGHT EXPRESS RELEASE BILL OF LADING IN E-MAIL:

Unless you had requested your Seafreight bill of lading upon set of originals in advance, upon your timely final payment of our freight invoice, in few days after Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) (sometimes it takes a little longer) we e-mail to shipper a copy of carriers Express Release Seafreight Bill of Lading in a file attached. Use the copy of the ocean freight Bill of Lading at a time of recovery of your cargo at the destination.

Notice: Several countries around the world, particularly Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Certain countries in Africa, do not accept express releases. International Transportation Companies should specify it upon issue of bill of ladings. Then we will mail you a set of originals Bill of Ladings by USPS First Class Mail within USA/Canada for free. Expedited or international mail must be prepaid.

If shipper/receptionist requires a set of originals Seafreight bill of lading for shipments to countries that DO accept express release, then $50 fee will be added on top of cost of the mail.

 

9. What is SED (Shippers Export Declaration)?

SED is the acronym for U.S. Sea freight Shipping Export Declarations.

In order to comply with U.S. Customs regulations International Transportation Companies enforce the condition on all export from U.S.: NO DOCS-NO LOAD. I.e. presentation of required shipping documents, INCLUDING Proof of AES Filing (ITN#) or AES Exemption Legend, must be submitted to an International Transportation Company (Ocean freight carrier) used for your shipment no later than in 72 hour before the Seafreight shipment departs from the USA.

Sea freight shipments without SED (if not an exempt) cannot be released to the export, subject to withhold and penalties related to lack of providing of proper export documentation.

Typical exempts from filing SED:

  • International seafreight shipments containing Household Goods or Personal Propriety not for sale of total value less than $2500.
  • Domestic sea freight shipments (to Hawaii for example). However, SEDs are required for ocean freight shipments between the USA and Puerto Rico as well as between the USA and Virgin Islands of the United States.

At a time of scheduling (booking) an international ocean freight shipment our online booking form provides options on filing SED:

OPTION A: Exporters may file SED online in www.aesdirect.gov directly free of charge. Then International Transportation Company needs AES ITN received from U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. Customs) BEFORE cargo will be delivered to the ocean freight carrier’s ship terminal (Container Yard – CY for FCL freight, Container Freight Station – CFS for LCL freight or Sea freight carrier pier for RO-RO or Break Bulk shipments).

OPTION B: Otherwise we may file SED on exporter behalf based on the provided commodity description in ship documents for the fee $35 up to two Harmonized Tariff numbers. $15 per Harmonized Tariff number thereafter. Notice: Household Goods or Personal Propriety sea freight shipments typically do not require specifying Harmonized Tariff numbers.

IMPORTANT: If exporter requests us to file SED on his/her behalf, then in order to do so we must have in advance at least:

  1. A valued packing list or commercial invoice, which contains: commodity description (1), value of shipped goods in USD (2), estimated weight (3) and volume (4). Our online forms for these documents allow you conveniently submit all that info from your computer. You may use this simple online forms in order to submit the information to us: COMMERCIAL INVOICE and/or VALUED PACKING LIST ONLINE.
  2. U.S. federal tax ID (EIN) or your social security number (SSN) or facsimile copy of foreign passport with U.S. visa No. We do not recommend to e-mail sensitive information. Call us or fax it.

 

10. Essential shipping documents used in the Sea freight industry

In respect of dealing with an International Shipping Company (Freight Forwarder, NVOCC, VOCC) shipper is held responsible for providing complete set of documents related to his/her international shipment by sea. I.e. International Shipping Companies act such carriers for moving goods overseas on behalf of shippers based on information on shipped cargo provided by shippers in advance.

Ocean freight Bill of Lading, the final document issued on Sea freight shipment, which acts as a title for shipped goods, typically states 'SHIPPER LOAD AND COUNT' and 'SAID BY SHIPPER TO CONTAIN'. I.e. exporters, but not International Shipping Companies used by exporters for their international shipments by sea are entirely liable for legality of shipped goods as well.

Here is the list of most common used documents that must be submitted to an international FCL seafreight shipment:

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS:

I. Sea freight Bill of Lading – Sea freight carrier's transport document. Consider it a title on exported goods. Ocean freight Bill of Lading shows general commodity description, cargo routing, consigner, consignee contact information, etc.

Sea freight Bill of Lading will be issued to exporter (consigner) upon full payment of freight invoice and in few days after ETD – Estimated Time of Departure.

II.1. For commercial seafreight shipments a COMMERCIAL INVOICE requires. It must contain complete description of commodity being shipped and the value in US$.

II.2. If it is a personal shipment (i.e. shipping household goods and personal belongings not for sale) then a VALUED PACKING LIST must be provided, which is an inventory list with value in US$ assigned to each item being shipped.

USING OUR FCL ONLINE SHIPPING SYSTEM EXPORTERS MAY FILL OUT AND SUBMIT COMMERCIAL INVOICE and/or VALUED PACKING LIST ONLINE. You may tote that this links related to our corporate web site -- http://www.OceanFreightUSA.com

If shippers would like to provide their own export documents in email or by fax, then in order to obey U.S. Customs requirements, all Commercial Invoices (and Valued Packing Lists) must be in English and contain:

  • Value of cargo in US Dollars (exchange rate = date of export);
  • Shippers full name and address (M.I.D. – manufacturer's identification);
  • Consignee full name and address;
  • Detailed description of cargo/freight;
  • Quantity of cargo shipped;
  • Weight of cargo shipped;
  • Cargo’s Country of Origin

Some courtiers around the world require proforma commercial invoices for personal sea freight shipments. Having a complete Valued Packing List submitted to International Shipping Company for U.S. Customs at origin, upon a destination customs request, consignee should be able to transfer a Valued Packing List in a form of Proforma Commercial Invoice.

ADDITIONAL EXPORT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED ON AN OCEAN FREIGHT SHIPMENT, DEPENDING ON COMMODITY AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

III. Packing List – Breakdown description: pieces, weights and packing materials. (Examples - Wood Pallets, Skids, Crates, Boxes, Dunnage, Straw Packing, etc.)

IV. Fumigation Certificate– Certification that cargo and packing materials were fumigated after cargo had been containerized and is free of Infestation.

V. Special Documents – Dependent on commodity and country of origin.

  • Visa
  • Quota
  • Visa/Quota
  • Certificate of Origin
  • North American Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin (N.A.F.T.A.)
  • Packing Declaration
  • Dangerous Goods Declaration – hazardous materials
  • Fish and Wildlife Declaration
  • Consular Legalized documents
  • F.D.A.
  • U.S.D.A.
  • Anti-Dumping

 

11. How does it work step by step?

NOTE: This topic applies to shipping vehicles from the USA in multimodal FCL seafreight containers. It DOES NOT apply to Ro-Ro shipments.

IMPORTANT!: Before you involve in an international ocean freight shipment that contains a motor-vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, motor-boat etc) make sure you will be able to furnish original title(s) at a time of submitting vehicle(s) to the shipment. MOTOR VEHICLE(S) WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL TITLE(S) CANNOT BE ACCEPTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT. This is the mandatory U.S. Customs requirement.  

Seven steps that you should be aware of:

1st STEP – REQUEST A PRICE QUOTE or ASK US ABOUT A POSSIBILITY TO SHIP YOUR VEHICLE(S) IN EMAIL 

Number of cars per seafreight container depends on sizes of cars being consolidated in the container. Enter information about your vehicle(s) when request a quote/rate confirmation in our online sea freight price calculator in http://www.cars-oceanfreightusa.com.

Note: Rates in the online freight price calculator are valid for mid-size cars (Examples: Ford Focus, VW Jetta, Toyota Camry etc) and not valid for shipping bigger cars. Upon a booking request we will reconfirm our price rate depending on number and size(s) of car(s).

If you do not see your origin or/and destination in our online sea freight price calculator, then email us complete info on your international shipment. We should reply to your email shortly and re-confirm our current possibility to arrange your shipment.

NOTE: IN ORDER TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS WE DO NOT PROVIDE RATES QUOTATIONS AND CONSOLIDATION OPTIONS OVER THE PHONE.

 

2nd STEP – FIRST-TIME CUSTOMERS PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT

After you will submit your booking request online via our price quote, you receive our e-mail with a Reference# on your international shipment and:

  • If it is your first shipment with us, then you will request to pay a security deposit.

    Typically this deposit is $160 per vehicle for vehicles self-delivered to loading docks OR $160 per vehicle plus estimated pickup cost for vehicles that requested to be picked up by us. However, in certain circumstances we may ask you to pay 50-100% deposit on your total ocean freight in order to proceed with your request.
     
    The deposit will apply to the final cost of your shipment. Consider our deposit request e-mail an invoice on your deposit.  
     
    We accept business and personal checks, money orders and wire transfers. On security deposits up to US$1000 we may accept major credit cards online. Please review our Payment Conditions on shipping vehicles and Return Policy.   

  • Customers who already have established an account with us should disregard our deposit request. They will wait for our e-mail with shipping instructions and after that for our final invoice.

 

3rd STEP – RECEIVE SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS IN E-MAIL. SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTS.

Upon your security deposit, we may need up to five business days from the day of booking in order to schedule your international shipment.

  • For new customers time counts from the day of receipt a security deposit funds to our bank account. Then we will send to the payer a confirmation e-mail. Consider that e-mail a receipt for your deposit paid.

Then you will receive our e-mail with DOCK RECEIPT containing shipping instructions for your shipment. You may consider the dock receipt a "ticket for your ocean freight shipment". This Dock Receipt should contain:

  1. Our Reference No. and information on your prospect ocean freight bill of lading. Check it out. Contact us if any changes are necessary in email ASAP. Note: No verbal corrections will be accepted. In email only

    Notice: In carrier’s sea freight bill of lading your car(s) may be consigned to our destination agent (if available). Then your consignee (recipient) information will be submitted directly to the agent in supplemental documents. However essential information on your car (make, mode, year, VIN and ITN) will be included in your bill of lading. Car(s) will be released at the destination by the agent upon proof of your bill of lading and a photo ID (passport, driver license etc) proving your consignee.  

  2. Loading dock address & phone# (if vehicles will be self-delivered to carriers’ ship terminal) OR

    If vehicle(s) required to be picked up at a designated by you location, then info of trucking company responsible on this pickup(s). The tracker should contact your pickup location(s) in advance. Important: In order to avoid delays or/and attempt pickup charges, make sure that pickup contact information submitted by you in your booking request form online is complete in correct.   

    In certain circumstances Power of Attorney (POA) on pickup of your vehicle(s) may require. We will inform you in advance if POA be necessary. This POA has to be completed, undersigned by you and returned back to us in a file attached or via fax.

  3. REQUEST TO SUBMIT TO US A COPY OF YOUR TITLE(S) IN A FILE ATTACHED OR VIA FAX 386-868-0360.

  4. Sailing details on your shipment (if available at a time of pickup or delivery) including:
    -- Ocean Carriers Booking No.;
    -- ETD - Estimated Time of Departure
    -- ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
    -- Vessel, Voyage, Routing

Follow instructions in our Dock Receipt. Failure to following our instructions may result to problems, delays and/or extra charges on your sea freight shipment.

IMPORTANT! ORIGIN TITLE(S) MUST BE SUBMITTED TO OUR LOADING WAREHOUSE REPRESENTATIVE AT A TIME OF DELIVERY or TO A PICKUP DRIVER AT A TIME OF PICKUP or MAILED TO US IN ADVANCE. VEHICLES WITHOUT ORIGINAL TITLES CANNOT BE ACCEPTED TO EXPORT FROM THE USA.

 

4th STEP: PAY OUR FINAL INVOICE. HAVE YOUR VEHICLE(S) SAILED TO THE DESTINATION. GET YOUR TITLE(S) AND B/L.

After your car(s) are loaded in a FCL sea fright container and ocean carrier accepted your vehicle(s) to the international shipment we will e-mail to you our final invoice containing total charges on your shipment less the security deposit that you had paid already.

Upon you payment we will e-mail you a confirmation on your final payment, release your vehicle(s) to the international shipment from the USA and your vehicles depart as scheduled. Consider this email a receipt on your final payment for the ocean freight. 

Note that after passing U.S. Customs and your final payment, validated title(s) of your vehicle(s) and your sea freight bill of lading can be mailed to the consigner or consignee for the following S&H fees:

- Domestic U.S. 1st class mail is free.
- Expedited domestic mail $40.
- Expedited international mail $75.

Before we will mail titles we may ask shipper to re-confirm recipient's name, address and phone# and pay S&H (if required) in advance.

 

5th STEP: RECEIVE YOUR BILL OF LADING

In few days after Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) (sometimes it takes a little longer) we will e-mail to you a copy of carriers Sea Freight Express Release Bill of Lading (consider the Bill of Lading a title for your international shipment). This Bill of Lading will show you complete information on your shipment and contact details of the ocean freight carrier’s destination receiving station, i.e. your destination agent.

Print the Sea Freight Bill of Lading and keep it in your records in order to recover your cargo at the destination. Shipments on Express Release should be released upon providing a copy of the Bill of Lading. No originals required.

If you need a set of originals B/L then please refer to these conditions.

 

6th STEP: MEET YOUR VEHICLES AT THE DESTINATION

In few days before ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival, ocean freight carrier’s destination agent should contact consignee/notify party with a Notice of Arrival.

If for any reasons you will not receive the Arrival Notice, then we strongly recommend you contact the ocean freight carrier's destination agent on the ETA day in order to find out status of your sea freight shipment. You can find contact info of the ocean freight carrier destination agent's in your Bill of Lading within the ‘For Delivery/Pickup Please Apply To’ block of the Bill of Lading. Fax or e-mail them a copy of your Sea Freight Express Release Bill of Lading and ask for recovery instructions on your international shipment. 

Note: Ocean freight shipments with trans-shipments, i.e. your Ocean Freight Bill of Lading shows that a port of discharge is different from the final destination: ETA on ocean freight shipments with trans-shipments may not be ETA to the final destination. Check ETA port in your ship documents. If it is not to the final destination, then it may take additional time to get cargo to the final destination. Some sea freight trans-shipments, from Europe to Africa for example, may take longer.

Notice: Most likely ocean freight carrier’s destination agent will not receive any information on your shipment until very few days before it actually reach the destination. If you contact them in advance, then fax or e-mail them a copy of your Sea Freight Bill of Lading, verify your contact info in order to get an arrival notice and wait for the notice of arrival.

 

7th STEP: CARGO RECOVERY AT THE DESTINATION. DESTINATION CHARGES.

IMPORTANT! YOU MUST FURNISH ORIGINAL TITLE(S) ON YOUR VEHICLE(S) TO THE DESTINATION CUSTOMS. WITHOUT THE TITLE(S) YOU VEHICLE(S) MAY NOT BE RELEASED BY YOUR DESTINATION COUNTRY CUSTOMS. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONSIGNEE (RECIPIENT) HAD RECEIVED THE TITLE(S) FROM YOU BEFORE ETA ON YOUR SHIPMENT.  

All international sea freight shipments are subject to destination charges. In general these charges include: 1 - Destination Country Government (Customs) related charges, i.e. duty and taxes (if any), harbor fees, fee on entry filing by a destination Customs Broker etc.; 2 - Destination terminal(s) handling charges and fees (THC); 3 – Service fee from ocean freight carrier’s destination agent on handling and delivery (if you requesting delivery to your door). Destination charges vary depending on a destination country and ocean freight carrier. Typically it is out of control of U.S. Freight Forwarder. Guiding importer in the complexity of cargo recovery procedures at the destination is responsibility of ocean freight carrier’s destination agent.

You may want to check in advance with your destination country embassy or ask a destination country’s customs broker about Government (Customs) regulations on your sea freight shipment.

Notice: a part or all destination charges may be required to be paid at a port of entree, but not at the final destination. I.e. you have to obtain Customs release and pay part of THC at a port of entry. Then your cargo will continue travel to the final destination cleared with customs.

 

12. How http://www.cars-oceanfreightusa.com is related to www.OceanFreightUSA.com? 

The http://www.OceanFreightUSA.com is the corporate web site that reflects Ocean Freight Services for shipping cars from the USA in FCL sea freight multimodal containers provided by American Multimodal International Deliveries – AMID Logistics, LLC.

For more information refer to this link.

 

13. Can I INSURE my car for the ocean freight shipment?

The majority of FCL Sea Freight shipments shipped with International Transportation Companies reach the destinations free of damage and loss.

However, shippers should be aware that direct ocean freight carriers (VOCCs, Steamship Lines) typically would liable up to $500 per shipping unit (i.e. box, crate, pallet etc). Also direct sea freight international transportation companies' liability may be limited to US$1,500 per entire shipment.

Then it may be a good idea to get an extra protection for a precious cargo and insure a sea freight shipment before it is tendered to an International Transportation Company.

AMID Logistics, LLC affiliates with Marine Cargo Insurance Companies.

Upon shipper's request we can obtain an Insurance Certificate issued to consignee's (recipient's) name on shipper's behalf.

For FCL sea freight shipment, we typically can obtain Insurance Certificates based on the following insurance premium rates per vehicle:

Vehicles in FCL multimodal sea freight containers proof packed:

  • Value declared up to US$25,000: $1.5 (or 1.5%) @ insured value declared
  • Value declared US$25,000 - $50,000: $1.3 (or 1.3%) @ insured value declared
  • Value above US$50,000: $1.1 (or 1.1%) @ insured value declared

$50 is the minimum per insurance certificate. Deductibles, as a rule, vary from $300 to $500.

Otherwise exporters may purchase insurance on a valued FCL ocean freight shipment from any insurance agency directly.

Note: If exporter had requested us to obtain an insurance certificate on an FCL sea freight shipment on his/her behalf at a time of booking, then the insurance premium will be added to our final invoice and the insurance certificate be attached in PDF file to our final invoice.

IMPORTANT: In order to obtain an insurance certificate for your international ocean freight shipment, a Commercial Invoice or Valued Packing list in proper form must be provided in advance.

Shippers have to be aware that for FCL Seafreight shipments:

  • In case of insurance claim related to an insured international FCL sea freight shipment, the Insurance Company’s Claim Settling Agent located in the country of destination will process the claim. Complete contact info of Claim Settling Agent is available in the Insurance Certificate.
  • If a sea freight shipment is not insured then all claims are to be directed to the steamship line (direct carrier, international ocean freight transportation company, i.e. owner of the vessel for your export from the USA) used on the FCL ocean freight shipment.  

 

14. ISPM 15 RULES - Wood packing restrictions in the sea freight

With regards to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases throughout the world, new regulations had been implemented in the ocean freight industry. These regulations known worldwide as ISPM 15 rules and have been originated from the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC - www.ippc.int). ISPM 15 rules apply on international seafreight shipments containing wood packaging material such as pallets, crates, dunnages, drums, wood cases etc. International transportation companies must comply with these ISPM 15 rules when accept cargo to overseas shipments.

ISPM 15 requires that all international shipments using any species of raw wood packaging must be fumigated or heat treated to kill insects or fungus and stamped with the approved stamp, before goods are allowed entry or crossing through a participating country.

ISPM 15 rules apply on all export and import from and to the USA. It applies on shipments planned with either international transportation companies (Freight Forwarders, NVOCC, VOCC) or international moving companies.

If you use an international transportation company (but an international moving company. I.e. a freight forwarder, NVOCC, VOCC) on your international shipment from the USA, always insure that your goods are properly packed in respect of compliance with this ISPM 15 rules.

If you use a service from an international moving company, then unsure that the international moving companies is aware of and obey ISPM 15 rules at a time of load of your goods in a sea freight container.

For more information please refer to this link

 

15. Payment options

Please refer to the variety of payment option offered for FCL Sea Freight shipments in this link from our corporate web site -- https://www.oceanfreightusa.com/payment-online.php

 

16. Add-in to General Terms and Conditions for exporting cars (other motor vehicles) from the USA

Ocean freight price per a smaller motorized vehicle (motorcycles, jet skis, ATV’s, snowmobiles etc) should be equal to the ocean freight price of shipping a mid-size car, but always must be re-confirmed upon a booking request. 

ADD-IN TO GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SERVICE:  

  1. GENERAL SERVICE DESCRIPTION: Shipping cars from US by sea consolidated in 40'/40HC and singles 20' (if available) sea freight containers. Sea freight rates are valid for mid-size cars (sizes of Toyota Camry, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Corvette etc). Prices are in USD. Sea freight rates for shipping cars from US are all-in (all-inclusive) EXW to Destination Port (rail terminal) on FOB and include the ocean freight to destinations and all charges at origin, i.e. loading and securing cars in containers, U.S. Customs, titles formalities and origin's THC (Terminal Handling Charges). DESTINATION CHARGES ARE NOT INCLUDED.
     
    Currently we offer the service via following ship terminals located in the USA:

    • BAYONNE, NJ (New York City area)
    • MIAMI, FL
    • SAVANNAH, GA
  2. Sea freight rates are subject to verification and confirmation upon booking requests. carrier’s GRI (general rates increase), BAF (Bunker adjustment factor. I.e. cost of fuel increase) and other applicable charges accrued (if accrued) before vehicles are loaded in container(s) may be added to the final freight charge. 
  3. In order to proceed with a booking on shipping cars from the USA complete information related to shipment must be submitted in this secure online form (you will instantly obtain a reference number by submitting this form) and a security deposit $160 per vehicle must be paid in advance. Please review our Payment Conditions on shipping vehicles and Return Policy.
  4. U.S. Customs: Origin title(s) must be submitted to a shipping warehouse representative. Vehicles without original titles cannot be accepted to an internationl shipment from the USA. 
  5. Procedures and S&H fees on titles:
     
    A. If you self-deliver your vehicle to our ship warehouse in order to ship it from the USA overseas, then insure a receipt (VIR - Vehicle Inspection Report) obtained. Ask warehouse’s employee to sign, date the VIR and write a comment about original title presence at a time of delivery.
     
    B. If we pickup your vehicle or you use a cartage company on delivery of your vehicle to our ship warehouse, then we DO NOT recommend submitting your title to trucker at a time of pickup.
    After you vehicle will be picked up, mail your title to the address that we will provide in our instructions. Then you should email or fax to us a copy of your expedited mail receipt for the tracking.
      
    C. Taking your title(s) back:
     
    After passing U.S. Customs title(s) can be mailed to the consigner or consignee for the following S&H fees:
    - Domestic U.S. 1st class mail is free.
    - Expedited domestic mail $40.
    - Expedited international mail $75.
     
    Before we will mail titles we may ask shipper to reconfirm recipient’s name, address and phone# and pay S&H (if required) in advance.

    NOTICE: In certain circumstances, in order to obtain destination’s customs release on time and prevent possible storage, demurrage etc charges due to missing a title on consolidated cars, we keep the right to express mail titles directly to a ses freight carrier's destination agent (if available). Consignee will pickup title(s) along with vehicle(s) upon providing a sea freight bill of lading to the destination agent. In this event the titles S&H fee $75 will automatically be added to the final cost of the international shipment.
  6. SED – U.S. Shipper’s Export Declaration: In order to file SED (Shippers Export Declaration), AES ITN and XTN should be provided by shipper in advance. Otherwise we may file SED on behalf of shippers. In order to complete SED in AES on behalf of shipper, consigner’s Tax ID (IEN) or SSN that corresponds with the consigner’s name, street address and phone number may required. Schedule B code 8703230090 may be declared on all used cars shipped from the USA unless specified by shipper in advance.  
  7. We cannot be held responsible on any vehicles delivered to parking lots next to shipping warehouses without original titles and/or complete information sufficient to pass U.S. Customs for the international shipment. If agreed in advance, then free storage 30 days. If not agreed in advance, such vehicles may be towed at any time or storage fee will apply. 
  8. Read about PROCEDURES ON SHIPPING CARS STEP BY STEP.
  9. Detailed conditions of service for shipping cars from the USA are on the backside of carriers Bill of Lading. 

When request a quote/rate confirmation on thipping cars from the USA please provide us with complete information on your international shipment via a quote obtained in our online price calculator above or by filling out this secure online form.  In order to avoid misunderstandings we do not provide rates quotations and consolidation options on shipping cars from U.S. over the phone. We strongly recommend reading this link before you contacting us.

Read this link for more information on shipping cars from the USA overseas.

 

 
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