Japan to Southkorea, Ferry Problem

[harthel2011]

I have now reached Shimonoseki. But Kampu Ferry does not want to move to South Korea me because my FIA Carnet would not be accepted there. I must have one of ATA. Can anyone help to me?

[Chris of Japan]

I think the problem is that the ferry company did not check with Korean Customs. They are assuming that customs will refuse you.
I asked a Korean speaking friend to call Korean Customs to find out the details and have Korean Customs call the ferry company to say it is OK.
I will see my friend at the camp meeting later today and find out more details.
If you still have problems, try the ferry from Fukuoka. I sent you information on 30 September.

[klaus]

As always ..... Chris is THE MAN!!!!
Thanks my friend for helping so many people so many times!!

[Chris of Japan]

Originally Posted by klaus

As always ..... Chris is THE MAN!!!!
Thanks my friend for helping so many people so many times!!

Best to wait to see if my advice worked before thanking me. Hartmut did not say that he was successful yet. (In fact, he posted on another thread yesterday the same question.) My friend passed all the info I have along to Hartmut's Korean friend, who will supposedly call Korean customs for a clear answer. If Korean customs in Busan says 'no' there isn't much I can do....

[klaus]

Chris, short update: Hartmut did it with the help of two other bikers. He is off to Korea! Thanks again!

[harthel2011]

On my travels through Asia, I wanted to travel from Japan to South Korea. On 17/10/2014 I tried with my Korean friend at Kampu Ferry in Shimonoseki a ticket for me and my german buy motorcycle to South Korea. The employee told me that I can not get a ticket. My international FIA Carnet was not right for South Korea. I had to have an ATA Carnet.

After the conversation, my friend called in Korea at the Customs. There, he was told that my FIA Carnet is correct. On the Internet, I learn that the ATA Carnet is required for different goods, but not for vehicles. The website of the Japanese automobile clubs, JAF, my FIA Carnet is confirmed as correct document.

After the weekend I spoke on 10.20.2014 with my Korean friend and his Japanese girlfriend again at Kampu Ferry before. Despite my right documents they wanted to continue to sell me a ticket. You expect me that the customs of South Korea should you confirm my details. So something does not make foreign authority in the world. After much back and forth the captain of the ferry was asked by phone. He wanted to know my future travel destination to South Korea. When I specify Thailand, I get sold after multiple delays my ticket. The most important thing is that I now need absolutely no Carnet for travel to South Korea. That's what I initially communicated already Kampu Ferry.

We have the three of us nearly two hours for this result. Alone I would never get the ticket as a foreigner without Japanese language skills. In Europe you would see such behavior as xenophobic. I do not know why Kampu Ferry makes this?

Unfortunately, I have read in several travel reports from other world travelers have the same experience at Kampu Ferry. I have therefore Kampu Ferry described my experiences in a letter. At the same time I have the Ministry of Tourism informed.

I hope future travelers will be spared in the onward journey of this problem so they keep Japan as a hospitable country in memory. My Korean friend in Seoul, which is often in Shimonoseki, is willing in the future to support other travelers. He is post0426 <<AATT>> hotmail <<DDOOTT>> com via Email
reachable.

[Ken and Carol]

Thanks for the information harthel2011.

We hope to fly into Japan from North America in April 2015 and take the ferry to South Korea with our bike then in June take a ferry to Vladivostok. Very hard to find any information on the Kampu website regarding taking a vehicle. Do you remember how much they charged for yourself and the bike?

Does anyone know if this is the only ferry to South Korea that can take a motorcycle? Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Carol & Ken

[Tigresuisse]

Hi!!

First of all, Thank you harthel2011 for your information.
I'm still looking for some information about South Korea so anybody willing to share is very welcome!

Second, I would like to share with you my experience of crossing with my motobrike from Vladivostok to Sakaiminato (Japan).
I used the DBS Ferry company and my experience is very positive.
Check on their website and you'll find timetables and prices.

Of course, Japan is a bit tricky with Carnet de Passage, but the people at the Sakaiminato port have been very kind and helpful. They drove me to the JAF office and helped me having it stamped correctly - of course, I had to pay for this but it is a 40-min. car drive from the port to the JAF office so with a taxi would have been much more expensive.
They all speak English and Japanese, so the person taking me to the JAF spoke Japanese for me.

I'm still in Japan so I cannot share the experience of leaving this Country, will do it in May :-)

Here the contact in Sakaiminato:
DBS Cruise Ferry Japan Co., Ltd
〒684-0034
Tottori, Sakaiminato-city,
Shouwa-machi 9-23
TEL 0859-30-2332
FAX 0859-30-2313
e-mail tatiana <<AATT>> dbsferry <<DDOOTT>> com , tatiana.dbsferryjp <<AATT>> gmail <<DDOOTT>> com
www.dbsferry.com

And here the man you will need in Vladivostok:
Yuri Melnikov
General Manager
Links, Ltd.
89 Svetlanskaya str., office 312,
690001, Vladivostok, Russia.
Tel/fax: +7(423)222-15-78
Tel: +7(423)222-08-87
Mobile: +7 902 5243447
mail to: ymelnik <<AATT>> links-ltd <<DDOOTT>> com
Links Ltd | professional packing and moving services provider in Vladivostok, Russia

Yuri is the man you need because he can pick your bike up almost everywhere in Russia and ship it everywhere you need in the world. I've had stories of people stuck in Magadan and Yuri picking up the bikes and ship them oversea ...

I hope this helps. And please, I will be in Oita prefecture until mid May so if anybody is coming by, just let me know :-)
Take care,
Marta B.

[Ken and Carol]

Thanks for the information Marta (Tigresuisse).

Originally we were going to fly from Vancouver to Tokyo (Narita) then take the ferry from Shimonoseki to Busan, Korea. The fees to get the bike out of customs etc in Japan started mounting up so now going to take the easier option and fly to Soul and ferry from Busan to Fukuoka, Japan. After traveling approximately 4 weeks in Japan we will take the DBS ferry from Sakaiminato to Vladivostok. It was interesting to read your report. Hopefully going the other way will be just as easy. We also plan to use Yuri to help us get the bike out of customs in Vladivostok.

Thanks,
Carol & Ken Duval