RoRo between North America and Vladivostok
 

I'm having trouble arranging shipping of a small motorhome between N.America (ideally Alaska) & Vladivostok as part of a round the world attempt on the cheap from the UK.
The camper is too tall for standard containers and a 40ft high cube sounds expensive. It appears there are no direct RoRo routes, leaving me with the following options:

1) RoRo via Japan or South Korea
2) Does anyone want to buy a camper in Vladivostok for return to Europe.

Can anyone offer advice or help with these or any other options?

http://www.philspain.f2s.com/images/Fiat Camper.jpg

like this maybe . . ?
 

Hi Wrinkly
I got your email (thanks) but thought best to reply here for all to see.

The answer is go via South Korea.
There is not (or I couldn't find) any RoRo.
Two options of container exist for you by the sounds of it : FlatBedContainer (very expensive) or 40' HQ (high cube).
Cost of container varies greatly depending on agent used and where you ship into (or from).
We looked for an option to get from russia to eithe Canada/America/mexico. All info was telling me is that Russian paperwork can (and is) very time consuming (eg 2 weeks at port processing !!??) and when I started getting prices it looked like it was going to cost in excess of $8000 for 40'HQ

But - there is ferry between Zarubino and Sokcho, this ferry will cost about $500 for your vehicle and $250 for each passenger. We came from russia and it was very smooth. ferry runs 3 times week and exiting russia was piece of cake taking about 2 to 3 hours. we were then the only vehilce on the ferry !

To get from South Korea (or to) we used an agent based in Seoul called Wendy Choi ( aerokorea 'at' unitel.co.kr ) who is absolutely excellent. The container between LA Long Beach Port and Busan (south korea) cost $4000 (this includes ALL port costs both sides), that $4000 was split two ways because we squeezed 2 vehilces into the container. Ferry took 10 days port to port.
I just squeezed my truck in, we had to let air out of the tyres (they were near enough flat) but it did fit. My vehicle is 2.52m high (without air) and 2.1m wide.

We plan to now spend winter here in North Mexico / South California and then drive up to Alaska in the Spring. Where are you ?

Phil

More info
 

Thanks very much for your info, which has given me another option. I'm still in the UK looking at the map on the wall, recalling all the things that have gone wrong in past travels! We plan to arrive in US early spring next year.

I've had a quote for roro shipping from Tacoma (Seattle) to Yokohama (Japan) which "allegedly" takes advantage of empty ferries returning to Japan - $1,600 (International Shipping Worldwide Moving International Shipping Rates). The search is now on for cheap flights if anyone knows anything.

There is a roro ferry from Toyama (Japan) to Vladivostok which is currently around $450 for a Sedan Car and from $360 per passenger (http://www.shipping-worldwide.com/)

Problem with Japan is the requirement for a Carnet, but import duty is only 150% and my van is 20 years old, so it shouldn't be too much.

I'm now looking for a roro ferry between Japan and Korea, or US and Korea, which I'm sure is out there somewhere!

The "theme" of my trip is to travel around the world cheapest way I can, so I'll keep looking!!

Phil

I reading this thread with great interest - let me know what you come up with!

Would you need a carnet in Japan if you were "in transit"?

As far as I'm aware you will need a carnet if your vehicle leaves the customs area - unless it travels from port to port in bonded transport. The RAC are telling me that I decide the value of the vehicle, but they must agree. If you value too low insurers may not accept the risk. Insurance premium is set at 10% of the risk, i.e. value £2000 - duty for Japan 150% = £3000 - insurance premium £300.

I understand the carnet is not valid in S.Korea, they take a deposit on entry and refund on exit.

Phil

It's impossible to buy such car in Vladivostok be cause it's not popular here. And anyway will problem with docs after leave Russia.
Better to buy it in Japan and cross Russia. So this car will be yours, and in Russia it will have documents as transit.
IMHO :-)

In Japan, you cannot drive a foreign-registered vehicle legally without a Carnet.
Paying import duties may get it into the country, but your shipper will probably not let you drive it out of the warehouse if you do not have a carnet.
You will have to truck it to the inspection bureau and pay lots of money to register it in Japan!

Thanks for info Chris which confirms the requirement for a carnet. I didn't write my comment too well, I meant the carnet shouldn't cost too much, not the import duty.

Do you have any info on ferries from Japan to Korea? I'm under the impression that ferries from Korea to Russia arrive in a different port to those from Japan, and that it's worth going via Korea to avoid the "notorious" Vladivostok customs.

Phil

Ferries are from the ports of Shimonoseki and Hakata.
I think ferries run daily, but you may need a day or two for customs etc.
They don't get very many third-country (ie. not Japan or Korea) vehicles.

Thanks Chris. I think I know the routes now -time to go and see what happens!!

Phil

[QUOTE=wrinkly;162258]
There is a roro ferry from Toyama (Japan) to Vladivostok


There is also one from Fushiki, Japan

Acutally there is only one ferry to Vladivostok from Japan.
Fushiki is in Toyama prefecture.
The 'two' ports you mention are actually the same place.

Toyama is often mentioned because almost nobody in Japan knows where Fushiki is. It is a very minor town in Toyama prefecture. Note that there is also a Toyama city, the capital of Toyama prefecture. Toyama city is about 30 km from Fushiki port.
Have I just managed to confuse everyone?

mmmm ?
 

hi Phil.

Japan has the carnet issue, which obviously you appear to be well aware of.
I also believe that you my have issues with acceptance of your driving licence???? i.e. - you may have to take a japane driving licence test? i am not sure but certainly i have heard this.

consider hard the japanese option, it's a great country but we looked hard into takin the truck there an dismissed it as too difficult/expensive. We visited but just for week while truck was shifting from korea to usa.

my 'info' led strogly towards best way to see Japan a vehicle is buy in country and resell upon leaving.

Japan i think is great country, and our 7 days certainly did not do the place justice but South Korea was superb country which we spent 7 weeks in.

phil

Thanks for the warning. Currently the FCO are saying that an international driving licence is OK unless you take up residence, but nothing is ever certain. I'll now have a look for RoRo from America to Korea.

I'm looking forward to some hassle, but I also like a few alternatives up my sleeve.

Phil

P.S. Thanks Chris for clearing up the Fushiki issue. Far from confusing, it's now the only thing that's certain about my trip!!

Now to the Stans
 

Can anyone help with the Stans.

My plan was to travel from Mongolia through the Stans to Iran & then Turkey/Syria/Jordan. I'm being told Uzbekistan now requires LOI's which in turn requires a detailed itinerary and guide throughout the trip.

Is it worth the expense and hassle to go through the Stans? My alternative route would be more of Russia, ferry to Georgia (Sochi to Poti) then Turkey/Syria/Jordan.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Phil
If you don't reach your destination, you'll end up somewhere else