Questions we are asked
Practical questions about moving a machine by sea. Anything about your particular route is best answered by message.
Getting your machine on a ship
How do you ship a twenty ton excavator overseas?+
Usually inside a container with the boom and arm removed, or on a flat rack if the machine sits too tall or too wide once it is prepared. We look at the transport dimensions of your particular machine and tell you which of the two applies before you commit.
Does my machine need to be dismantled to fit in a container?+
It depends on the machine. Mini excavators and smaller loaders often go in whole, while a mid size excavator normally travels with the boom and arm off. We tell you plainly which applies to the unit you are buying rather than leaving you to find out later.
Which machines fit in a container without being taken apart?+
Generally the smaller ones. Mini excavators, compact loaders and forklifts usually go straight in. Once a machine gets past roughly twenty tons the answer is almost always that something has to come off first.
Is it safe to dismantle a machine for shipping?+
Yes, it is completely routine. Removing a boom and arm is a standard job that yards do constantly, and the parts travel secured alongside the machine in the same container so that nothing goes missing.
Who puts the machine back together when it arrives?+
Any competent local workshop or mechanic can reassemble it, and it is straightforward work. If you would like, we can send photographs from the yard showing how the machine came apart, which makes life easier for whoever puts it back together.
Can I ship two machines in one container?+
Sometimes, and it is worth asking. Two small machines will occasionally share a container, and even when they cannot, buying several at once usually improves the overall freight cost because the shipment is planned as one job.
Can I ship attachments and spare parts with the machine?+
Yes. Buckets, breakers, spare filters and other parts can travel with the machine, and it is generally far cheaper to send them together than to ship them separately later. Tell us what you want included when you ask for a quote.
Choosing between the three methods
When is a bulk vessel the right choice?+
When the machine simply will not fit in a container at a sensible cost. Large wheel loaders, dozers and the bigger excavators often travel this way, because forcing them into a boxed solution costs more than shipping them as they stand.
What is a flat rack and when do I need one?+
A flat rack is a container base with no walls or roof, so a machine can sit on it while being taller or wider than a normal container allows. You need one when the machine cannot be reduced enough to fit inside a box but is not suited to a bulk vessel either.
Why does flat rack shipping cost more?+
Because the space around and above the machine cannot be used for anything else, so the carrier charges for what that space would otherwise have earned. It is expensive, but for certain machines it is the only practical option, and we will say so honestly rather than pretending otherwise.
Which method is cheapest for my machine?+
Container is usually the most economical when the machine fits, bulk vessel tends to win on the larger units, and flat rack sits at the top. The only way to know for your machine is to look at its transport dimensions and your route together, which we are glad to do.
Does it cost less to ship from Morocco or from China?+
It depends entirely on where you are. Neither yard is cheaper across the board, and we compare both honestly for your destination rather than steering you toward whichever suits us. Tell us your port and we will show you the difference.
During the voyage
How is the machine secured inside the container?+
It is chained and braced so that it cannot move while the vessel is at sea, and any removed parts are secured alongside it. Ocean transit puts real force through a load, so this part is done properly rather than quickly.
Can you send me photographs of my machine being loaded?+
Yes, and we would encourage you to ask. Photographs taken during loading show you the condition the machine left in, which is useful for your own records and for any conversation at the other end.
Is insurance included in the price?+
With a CIF price the insurance is part of what you pay. With an FOB price you arrange your own cover for the sea leg. If you are unsure which you want, tell us and we will explain both against your particular shipment.
What happens if the machine is damaged during the voyage?+
That is what marine insurance exists for, and it is why we recommend cover being in place before the vessel sails. Photographs from loading help enormously here, because they establish the condition the machine was in when it left.
How soon after payment does a machine load?+
It depends on which yard it is in and what is sailing on your route at the time. Once your destination is confirmed we can give you real dates rather than a hopeful estimate, and we would rather do that than promise something the schedule cannot deliver.
Paperwork and people
What documents will I receive?+
The bill of lading along with the commercial invoice and packing list, which together are what your clearing agent needs to release the machine at the destination port. We prepare and send these rather than leaving you to chase them.
Can I use my own freight forwarder?+
Yes. If you already work with a forwarder you trust, tell us and we will deal with them directly. Plenty of our buyers prefer to keep their own logistics people involved and that causes us no difficulty at all.
Do I need to be at the port when the machine arrives?+
No. Your clearing agent handles the arrival, the customs formalities and the release, and most buyers simply collect the machine or have it trucked once it is cleared.
