Shipping options when moving house from Australia
Are you moving overseas?
Moving house can be a challenge when it’s around the corner to the next street. Moving overseas is an even larger challenge, especially if you’ve not done this before or you have no support.
In these circumstances, the big question is “how do I do this, and what are my options and costs?”
Using a freight forwarder for moving overseas
A freight forwarding service can be a massive boon. The knowledge and experience with overseas shipping processes can save you time, money and (worst case scenario) the loss of your precious belongings.
When you know you’ll be moving overseas, to begin with you need to decide exactly what it is you want to happen (or at least the locations and potential timing). At that point you can give us a call to talk about the how and when, and the costs involved.
Our freight forwarding services are best for anyone who is paying for this themselves, and does not mind doing a little bit of the work themselves. This is ideal for anyone (or a family) who wants to move their whole, or major part of their household to another country.
As freight forwarders based in Australia, we can only send a shipping container to the port at your intended destination. We do not have facilities to handle any customs issues at the destination, or any door deliveries. Consider that you need to have a representative at the other end to act on your behalf and more or less do the reverse of what happens here.
The shipping options for moving overseas
So, presuming the decision to move overseas has been made, there are three basic options for you:
- Leasing a self pack shipping container and loading from your own home.
- Using a leased container that is packed at our depot.
- Purchasing your own shipping container.
Self Pack Containers
Probably the best and cheapest option for you is to pack the container from your home yourself, although it comes with potential difficulties.
There are some rules and regulations that may or may not allow you to do this (these will be covered as a separate notation), but presuming you can do this, then this is always the cheapest and best option for you.
The shipping line will provide us with a container. We can then deliver the container to you at your chosen address. You pack the container and then we pick up the full container and deliver this to the vessel for shipping.
Just consider that if you pack the container yourself, the walls of the container form part of the packing for your items. Inside the container there are a number of tie down points on the walls and floor.
You need to make sure that all of your items are secured and protected. Bear in mind that the vessels may encounter 20 meter swells. You do not want the contents of your container moving around or ending up as matchwood by the other end.
It will be your responsibility to provide all of the packing and securing for your belonging. Things such as extra packing blankets, ropes and the like are vital.
Container Packed At Our Depot
Similar to above, except that you arrange a removalist to take the goods from your home to our container depot. The removalist then transloads the goods from their vehicle into the container for shipping.
We would arrange to have the container at our nominated depot in the metropolitan area. We then take the shipping container to the port for freighting after your removalist has packed it.
This can be an extremely good option for anyone who either cannot or does not want to pack their own container. This is also a great option for anyone outside of the metropolitan area who is looking to relocate overseas.
Bear in mind, that if you choose this option, then it will be your responsibility to provide the removalist with blankets and other items to secure the goods. The removalist will not provide these items as they are they will not get them back. This is always a good way to use your own blankets and linen – just requires a wash or disposal afterwards.
Buying Your Own Shipping Container
Purchase your own shipping container can be a viable option. In combines with either option above in that you can pack the container at your home or at our depot. The only difference is that you have purchased your own container (or we can do it for you). This means that you will not need to be concerned with the container leasing timeframes required by the shipping lines (as noted in the next section).
Buying a shipping container may be a good option if you do not know what accommodation you have at the other end. It is also extremely useful if you will likely need extra storage.
Purchasing a shipping container will cost you more up front, however, there is peace of mind. You’ll have additional time and flexibility and then be able to sell the container once you have finished with it. Just consider that there are a few compliance issues you will have to deal with, however. It is not as simple as just going out and purchasing or shipping any old container.
The Shipping Line rules to be aware of when leasing a container
However you do this, we will arrange the shipping to the port of the country to where you are going.
All the charges up to this point are prepaid. The destination port and shipping line charges can be paid here or there, whichever your preference. What we cannot control is what happens after that.
Also consider that when leasing a shipping container, the shipping lines usually only allow 3 free days at the destination port before there will be port demurrage charges. At the other end the shipping lines typically allow about 10 free days from the date of the vessel arrival until the requested return of the container. After that they’ll charge you container detention (demurrage) fees.
What this means is that you don’t have unlimited time to use a container leased from a shipping line. You must pack and unpack the container within the provided timeframes in order to avoid additional costs and fees.
Additionally, in many cases the shipping line will actually ask you for a substantial deposit for the container to enable you to remove this from the port. You would then claim back after you have returned the empty container.
If you are not sure what is going to happen at the other end, then this may be another reason for you to purchase your own container.
SPLS – The Freight Forwarding Specialists
We can assist you with you making the best decision for yourself. Contact us to discuss your move and how we can help.
