FAQ

A: Overseas moving costs are based on the size of your shipment. Both the weight, in pounds or kilograms, and the volume, in cubic feet or cubic meters, affect the cost of the move. Prior to preparing a comprehensive door to door quotation, our professional surveyor will make a visual survey in your home to estimate the weight and volume of your shipment.

A: All services that can be accurately estimated in advance including materials and labor for packing and removal from residence, loading containers, inland transportation to the port / airport of departure, ocean freight / air freight, terminal handling charges, custom broker’s fees, inside delivery to your new residence with good truck access, unwrapping furniture, simple assembly of standard beds and tables, unpacking cartons and removal of the spent materials on the day of delivery.

A: Any service, fee or charge that cannot be accurately estimated in advance, or are beyond our control, are not included in a door to door quotation. These may include: customs examination, X-Ray scanning by port security authorities, Quarantine Inspection, import duty or import taxes, customs bond fees or government fees based on the value of the shipment, demurrage or airport storage charges, container rent or container detention, difficult access conditions at the destination residence, storage, services of third party tradesmen such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers or handymen, or the actions of government officials.

A: A steamship container is a steel shipping unit that is owned by the steamship line and provided for the use of the cargo shipper as part of the ocean freight service. Steamship containers are constructed to standardized sizes and specifications that are uniform throughout the shipping industry. There are 3 sizes that are available to most overseas destinations:

20 feet long x 8’ 6” high x 8 feet wide
Volume capacity is 1,170 cubic feet / 33 cubic meters

40 feet long standard height container 8’ 6” high x 8 feet wide
Volume capacity is 2,385 cubic feet / 67 cubic meters

40 feet long high cube container 9’ 6 high x 8 feet wide.
Volume capacity is 2,690 cubic feet / 76 cubic meters

Shipments loaded into steamship containers are called “ FCL” method,
for “Full Container Load.”

A: A liftvan is a large wooden or corrugated crate specially designed for shipments of household goods and personal effects. Liftvans are used when a shipment is too small to be economically shipped in an FCL steamship container or when a shipment requires a higher level of extra protection. In the USA, a standard “Type II” liftvan crate has an internal capacity of approximately 170 cubic feet / 5 cubic meters. The liftvan is designed to efficiently fit inside of a steel steamship container. Individual liftvans are consolidated at a container freight station and loaded inside a steamship containers for ocean transport. This provides another level of protection for the shipment.

The method of shipping individual liftvans in a consolidated steamship container is called “LCL” for ” Less-than-Container Load.”

A: Most countries, including the USA, restrict, regulate and tax imports of alcohol, including beer, wine and spirits. Regulations vary by country and range from completely prohibiting all alcohol imports to allowing them with the payment of taxes and import duties. Many countries, and many USA States, require an Import Permit. We can advise you about the rules for your particular destination. But keep in mind: sending alcohol in your shipment will always increase your costs.

A: Many countries, including the USA, regulate or restrict the importation of foodstuffs. We can advise you about the rules for your particular destination. For destinations where food importation is allowed, only processed, packaged, non-perishable food can be shipped.

A: Airfreight can be a cost-effective and practical method for transporting small shipments of personal effects, and for shipping necessities that are needed immediately when you arrive at your destination. The cost of airfreight is very sensitive to the cubic volume of the shipment. We can tailor an airfreight shipment for you that both meets your needs and your budget.

A: Yes, our professional packers will carefully pack your personal effects using industry-standard size cartons that are specially designed for safe stowage and efficient handling. You only need to pack your suitcase, and our packers will do the rest !

A: Yes, we can ship your car overseas. There are two methods for shipping cars: loading them inside of a steamship container or sending them on a car-carrier ship. Car-carrier ship service is called “roll-on, roll-off service” because the car is driven on and off of the ship under its own power, and parked under cover in a garage deck ( think of a large floating parking garage.) While container service is available to most destinations, the car carrier ships only serve certain major market ports. To export a car from the USA, you must have a clear Title for the car ( Certificate of Ownership) that is submitted for review and approval by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service. No unpaid loans, liens or leases can be mentioned on the Titles of vehicles being exported.

A: Marine Cargo Insurance, to protect your shipment from loss or damage in transit, is a recommended option. All transportation service providers have limited cargo liability in their bill of lading terms and conditions, including movers, truckers, steamship lines and airlines. Third-party marine insurance to cover your shipment from door to door, across several modes of transport, is an important safeguard for your goods. Our marine cargo insurance agent can provide you with several options to protect your shipment. An itemized, valued list of the goods is required needed to arrange marine insurance coverage. Whether your shipment travels by ocean, air or truck, the insurance industry refers to cargo insurance in general as “ marine insurance.”