Shipping glider by container

[Andrzej Kobus]

I brought a few gliders to the USA, but all of them by RORO from Germany. I decided to ship my new glider by container to Jacksonville. Can anyone tell me how it works when the container arrives? Can I just go there open the container get the trailer out and be on my way after custom clearance or do I need to get it delivered to some business there so I can open it and take the trailer out?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Andrzej

[Middleline Airfield]

RORO is so much easier. Shipped about a dozen gliders over the years and would only do RORO moving forward. Yes, you will need to get the custom clearance, container inspected, and released and shipped to a business that can accept it at a loading dock. 

Tim Hanke

Saratoga Springs, NY 

[Andrzej Kobus]

Every single trailer shipped by roro had scratches on the underbelly. I saw them unloading the trailer from the ship. The ramp was at high angle. And the end of the trailer was dragged on the skids that are installed at the end. There is a potential for damage using RoRo. Also maneuvering on the ship, there is a risk.

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[Roy Bourgeois]

Andrzej

I have done this twice - into the ports of Houston and Los Angeles. In both cases I contacted a port "logistics" company to help with container handling,  unpacking of the trailer,  and return of the empty container. These are businesses who specialize in handing containers in and around ports and they always have a facility outside of the secure area where they do the unpacking and storage until you get there to pick it up. The cost was around $900 to $1500 and you pay them when you pick up. They usually give you 2-3 days free storage.  I made the arrangements while the container was at sea and it was helpful that I had a photograph of the trailer being packed into the container (so they understood exactly what they would encounter).  Both experiences were good.  In one case the trailer was on the street waiting for me. In the other it was inside but easily brought outside.  They handle the trailers with a forklift to which they attach a trailer hitch ball - but they might not have the European size ball.  These guys are very creative  but they are sometimes less than delicate.  If possible I would have someone mark the trailer top handles, "No Lift Here" since thy are used to attaching a fork lift strap to anything that looks like an anchor point. I brought some cash money to give to the guys handling the trailer for me.   I also used a customs broker to handle the import duties and other issues.  It is too difficult to do these things yourself.  Good luck

ROY

[Craig Reinholt]

My last glider shipped by RORO was damaged due to the ship loading personnel strapping down the glider and positioning the strap turnbuckles on top of the aluminum trailer. They then ratcheted down the straps and dimpled the trailer top in 8 spots, almost piercing the top in one location. Good luck shipping RORO. You'll need it.

Craig

[Middleline Airfield]

I have had great luck with shipping out of Emden, Germany with the VW''s, Audi's, BMW's, etc. They tend to handle things well. Never had a scratch on them. Guess I was lucky? 

Tim Hanke

Saratoga Springs, NY  

[Middleline Airfield]

The concern I have with containers is they just stack them on top of each other with a crane on the ship. I have heard of containers falling off at sea and being dropped at the shipping port? At least with Roll on/ roll off, the vehicles are in rows and aren't that high. 

Tim Hanke

Saratoga Springs, NY  

[Roy Bourgeois]

Folks

It might be helpful to note that RORO is not always an option that is available - especially if the glider is coming via a route that requires a change in ships.  The problem issue is security while the uncontained cargo is outdoors between ships.  A lot of RORO cargo is not contained at all (large farm tractors for example) and when the route requires off loading from one ship to another, the only option available  is a sealed container.   When my ASH-25 came in from Africa to LA it was transferred via 3 different ships ( the big ships couldn't go through the Panama Canal).  To save money  (about $3500) on my second import I used Africa to Houston - but RORO was still not an option. 

ROY   

[Andrzej Kobus]

Craig, just curious, what port was your trailer loaded at?

Andrzej

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[Bruce Friesen]

One random experience:  a LAK coming from the Avionics trailer factory to Vancouver BC.  On the advice of the Canadian avionics dealer, I paid for an entire container, and was pleased with that choice.  The shipment did change ships in Amsterdam, so that was definitely a factor.

As per previous posts, a local logistics company was contracted to extract the container from the port and Customs and move it to an off-site yard.  In my case, the logistics company placed the container at a location on their yard which I could safely access and extract the trailer myself.  Highly recommend negotiation of that process.  The trailer manufacturer had fabricated fittings to secure the trailer in the container.  I had the opportunity to release the trailer from those fittings, and roll it out of the container, myself. Hook up, and drive out of the yard. Thus, I was able to complete those steps at my pace and with my "owner" hat on.

I have a story!  The plan was for the glider to move from the LAK factory in Lithuania to the Avionics factory in Poland in a LAK factory trailer.  COVID.  Any Lithuanian traveling to Poland was required to quarantine for two weeks on return.  I cannot overstate my appreciation for the LAK and Avionics folks.  LAK agreed to take my glider to the Polish border in their factory trailer.  Avionics staff brought my new trailer to the Lithuanian border.  Magically, the glider then moved from the LAK trailer to my trailer with nobody crossing the border :o)

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[Craig Reinholt]

Andrzej,

My ASH 31 mi was shipped on the Wallenius Wilhelmsen RORO ship TIGER out of Bremerhaven. 

Craig

[Andrzej Kobus]

Wow, I would think they ship so many gliders out of there that they would know better. I was more concerned about damage on our side of the big pond, but it seems over there technical literacy deteriorated lot.

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[Michael Opitz]

Over the years I have shipped something like 17+ gliders via RoRo.  Most from Germany or Belgium to the northeast USA.  In 1987 I shipped my

Discus B from Savannah, GA to Melbourne Australia for the WGC and back.  For the  1989 WGC, my ASW-24 went to Austria (through the AS factory) 

and back.  I have never had a scratch on any of them.  I was always told that they tied the trailers down on the deck by the tongue and the axle.  The 

only issue was that I had inadvertently left a license plate on one of my trailers, and the plate got stolen in transit.  Apparently, license plates are

hot collector items.

Mike Opitz

RO

[Ryszard Krolikowski]

I moved only 3 gliders.

RoRo 2 yrs ago from Texas to Germany was the fastest (1 month) but $3500 plus cost of the agent for paperwork and moving outside the harbor. In 2000 this extra was $300, but Roy just reported over $1000 for paperwork and moving out of the harbor.

No visible damage.

Container took 3 months, $2800 no extra cost at destination.

Cobra front and back handles used as a tie down and damaged.

With bottom of the Cobra trailer corners  visible attachments maybe would be better?

Ryszard

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[Uli N]

I helped bring in two gliders from Europe via Bremerhaven to the Port of Charleston, SC. In both cases, the trailers were placed into 40' containers and the freight brokers in Charleston handled the unpacking. The trailers and their content arrived w/o a scratch or dent! RoRo has too many opportunities to get the trailer and glider messed up.

Just my two cents worth of input.

Uli

'AS'