RORO safety and theft protection
 

Hi,
I am shipping my bike in 10 days using a RORO service with Wallenius.
I am wondering if any one had theft, damage experiences with WWL and if there are any ways of protecting it.
Is there any chance that they would steal your seat, panniers and top box since they all operate with the same key and you are supposed to give them the key?
Thanks for your advice.

Bro, once you get over 40, you´ll figure that there´s a chance for everything in the world. Therefore there is even a chance that someone steals your MC if you´re handing over your key. If you talk about the Norwegian Wallenius-Wilhelmsen logistics company, what exactly makes you worry about them? How long do you think such a company will stay in business if they steal MC seats and panniers, of all things - and have to explain the loss to you whilst the bike was in their care? Take a pic with your cellphone when handing over the bike and you´ll be able to prove that there was a seat on the friggin´ bike when you handed the key to the dude.... :( If you let me have your route, I´ll purchase a WW T-shirt on the web and wait for you at the port entry... Watch out for bubba with the sunglasses and the cool cap, that´ll be me.

Honestly, the only worries I´d have when handing my bike to a dedicated logistics provider in good standing would be that the bike ends up in the topmost container and the ship loses that container in the North Atlantic... Tell you what - if you´re worried about WW´s service, how will you get some food and take a trip to the john whereever you go, unless you weld your bike to a lamppost?:scooter:
RELAX!
Cheers
Chris

I've used WW many times with nary a problem except for a paperwork cock up by their agents in Durban on one occasion which didn't affect the delivery time. I have never had anything stolen or broken and have always (OK Durban was an exception) found the office staff and dock yard guys efficient, courteous and cheerful. I would say use them and don't worry, ride safe.

Thank you both for responding.
I am aware that there is a chance for everything and anything can happen. But I do not want to end up in a foreign countury without a seat and burning my butt on the battery :)
Cheers :mchappy:

I have used Wallenius and no problem, the bike went across the Atlantic no problem, the spare fuel bottles and spanners zip locked to the machine still there at the other end , and i unlocked the seat and lifted it up off the lock so that if customs wanted a look see they would not bust the lock . The panniers were also unlocked and left open ,other bits that could have been easily removed all intact.
Think the other way round if customs spots a bike all locked down with loads of anti theft , they may think whats he hiding and cause more damage when they take a peep.
It's a good honest reliable service.It's right that you should think "what if" , but then sometimes you got lay back enjoy a beer and c'est la vie !

if you are worried, take photos of it the moment you hand it over, so that you have a record of how it was, in case you do need to make a claim.

They messed up my paperwork, been delayed 9 days in NYC (expensive) and they dropped the bike but all nothing was missing. Anyway now that i've learned about all the procedures and needed paperwork it would be a bit easier.

HI Mike

I notice you have used the roro from the UK to Halifax .. am I correct ?, I wonder if you could recommend this route or have any advice to help with our route planning. Hoping to start a trip in Canada June 2013 and ride south. Did you have any issues with luggage, I understand that the bike on a roro has to be empty, wondering if this would mean excess luggage to take our gear out. Many thanks

Andrew

I had a pair of HID auxiliary lights stolen on the return from Belgium to NYC on WW. I never wound up making a claim against them, though, and regret not pulling them off the bike before departure.