problem with shipping
 

HI Lads&Ladies,
The shipping agent I am using to air freight two bikes from london to Buenos Aires has asked for the following UN number of the bikes, the hazardous class and the packing group. Does any one know what these are? the two bikes are BMW R1100GS if this helps,the agent says that this has been requested by the airline.
thanks for your help
jose

[This message has been edited by the celt (edited 09 August 2003).]

No, but I'd suggest you find another agent - they SHOULD know. Contact David Grist at H-C Travel, he should be able to sort you out.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

The UN number for a motorcycle is 3166, which corresponds to "Vehicle, flammable liquid powered".

Your shipper can look in the IATA DGR book to find the most recent "packing instruction" for UN 3166, if it has not changed in the last year (I doubt it has changed), the instructions will state that the battery must be disconnected, and the fuel tank as empty as practical (generally understood to be less than a gallon). You DON'T have to drain every last drop of fuel.

The motorcycle will also need a diamond-shaped DGR sticker on it, class 9, 'miscellaneous'. Any air carrier can supply you with this sticker.

A DGR declaration needs to be filled out, according to international law, this must be filled out by the shipper (meaning, the airline cannot complete it for you), but if you ask nicely, the airline cargo acceptance staff are allowed to explain to you how you fill out the form (what goes where). But please understand they are forbidden by law from putting pen to paper themselves on this DGR declaration.

Look in the very back of the IATA DGR book and you will find a two page acceptance checklist that indicates everything you must do to make your shipment ready. 99% of it is paperwork, 1% of it will be following the packing instruction for the UN category that your cargo falls into.

PanEuropean