Shipments done by Travellers

Stefan is very profesional, his service and knowledge were very helpful!
Just one important thins: since I left my bike with him and he needed to stamp the Carnet with the German custom he left the Carnet in the panniers (I didn't take the Carnet with me).
It was a bit of a catch 22 because I needed the Carnet to release the bike from custom but it can't be done without the Carnet (that was in the panniers)...
Finally, a nice lady from the Cape Town's customs came with me to the bike and allowed me to open the boxes and take out the Carnet. I was out of the cargo area within 1 hour!

casa viena is a hostel, acting agent for boats to and fro Cartagena and Panama.

sailing is a new away to cross the darien gap at the same time we get to go dive, swim and visit some coconut islands in panama.

If you are allegic to sea, meaning you are easily sea-sicked, you will not enjoy it. the first 36 hrs of sailing, we couldn't eat, couldn't drink a sip of beer and couldn't smoke. according to the captain that it was a calm sea. my wife vomited 3 times and couldnt sleep inside the cabin thro the night.

if u love sea and waters, i recommand using such methods.

casa viena got no idea what kind of boat they are recommanding. we just got our luck, got a boat with a captain that has no knowledge of motorbikes. the ship, fritz the cat does not belong to the captain so all the wear and tear were replaced with tapes and temp screws. u could imagine how is it like.

the worst thing was the captain did not do up my tempory import permit. he went to the immigration, the officer just put a stamp in my owner's registration papers. so if i need a proper paper, i need to go to panama city myself to do all the paperwork.

he charged me US$300 for the bike, gave tips for the workers to load/unload the bike from the boat but he did not complete the whole import process. he just quoted: don't worry, with this stamp you could get out of panama. u know, this is panama.

well, he is not the one that is leaving the country with me, if i exit the country without a proper import paper i will be in deep shit.

anyway, have more time to wait for good boat and with good captain to arrive else dont do it. heard from others that they are in a smuggling boat dealing with drugs too!

US$300 for motorbike
US$375 per person, meals included, small and stuffy cabin, 4 nights trip.

good luck!

I get a crate from a BMW dealer for free.
Transport to Port Botany and the Coustoms Clearence (Carnet de Passage ) were arranged by my self.
I could store the bike 1 week for free in the warehouse.

Crate 2,63 m3

Total costs Sydney - Hamburg includes all fees

350 Euro

The two ""Aseantex-brothers"" Assir and Abul were recommended to us by the Malaysian Automotive Association. Besides the fact that Abul and Assir were giving us a very friendly and honest impression on a personal level, they offered to do the job for a reasonable price.

We had to ship a BMW 1150 GS (crate of 4.13m3) and a Honda Transalp (crate of 3.80m3), here are the facts, prices in Malaysian Ringgit (RM):

Examination fee 180 @ 2 motorbikes = 360
Handling fee 50 @ 2 motorbikes = 100
Forwarding fee 220 @ 2 motorbikes = 440
Documentation fee 55 @ 2 motorbikes = 110
Lashing & crating fee 480 @ 2 motorbikes = 960
Gov. Service tax 5% = 98.50
THC fee 40 @ 8m3 (total of 2 motorbikes) = 320
BL & EDI fee = 110
Freight charges 8m3 @ USD 35 times 3.65 (for RM) @ 2 motorbikes = 1022
Marine insurance (optional!) = 421.71
Fumigation fee 180 @ 2 motorbikes = 360
Fumigation stamp print 20 @ 2 motorbikes = 40

Total fees = 4342 RM ~ 1270$

Abul and Assir offer a complete package and perfect guidance through the whole procedure. Once the bikes are parked at the warehouse in Port Klang their employees take care of crating the bikes properly. This is done very professionally since our bikes survived the month long trip to Rotterdam without the slightest damage. They were ready to hit the road again right away.

Assir is a very experienced motorbike/4x4 world traveller himself. He knows exactly what kind of service is demanded and expected on the costumer side. We can definitely recommend him and his brother, they both were very hospitable on top!

Getting the bikes out of the warehouse in Rotterdam/Netherlands was more difficult than sending them off in Malaysia. Most of all we were astonished about the price we had to pay in order for G.I.L.S. Worldwide (Grevenbroek International Logistics Solutions) to release our bikes. They were asking for another 550 Euros (~760$). Apparently this price range is quite common at European ports.

On the Malaysian side though, Assir and Abul from Aseantex are the guys to work with, no doubt about that. Thanks again for your kind support!