I have shipped my bike to Bremerhaven from New York after completing the Route 66. It will arrive on 17.05.2011
Meanwhile, I am in Mexico to kill time.

I have Carte Verde and all the necessary documents to drive in Europe.
I have contacted several freight forwarders and customs clearing agents.
No response.
Has any one imported a non EEC bike to Germany? If so can I do it on my own?
Your kind advise will be much appreciated.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...we-speak-56119
[url=http://cafe.daum.net/HarleyAdventure]Daum ī

I haven't imported a none EEC bike to europe (I guess you mean a temp import). But I have taken a swedish bike from Canda to Germany and I had no problem what so ever.

I hope the same goes for the other way around, the only part as i can remember now that you need a agent is to get it shipped. To get it through custom was the easy part, even if the knowledge was extremaly limited ("Do you speak english?" "Nein!"). If you're not going to register it in germany just claim a temp import and you should be safe within EU for a few months. I guess....

Anyway even if the language might seems to be a barrier the custom is very helpfull and will try to their best to get you through. It took me 10 min to get my bike through custom in Frankfurt, it took the freight company 4 hours to get the documents from their office to the customs (200 m away)...

I hope you will have the same positive experiance with german customs as I had.

Cheers,
Zappa

__________________
Zappa
Stockholm, Sweden
XL600V Transalp

You could try Olaf Kleinknecht. He works for a company specializing in shipping bikes out of Germany (which most freight forwarders won't touch with bargepole anymore). Maybe he can offer his service or some advise? My only connection is that I used them to ship a bike to NZ.


In Time Forwarding & Courier e.K.
Flughafen Frachtzentrum Geb. 148
22335 Hamburg - Germany
Fon +49 - 40 - 50751014
Fax +49 - 40 - 50751657
mail ojk@intime-ham.com

Best of luck!
(sorry about the color, cut&paste artifact)

Tanks guys ,, I am hearing that ,, all I have to do is just show up and claim the bike,, and drive her off ,, This is according to Bundes Zoll..
We shall see,,

Still no word from any of the Deutch Spedition firms ,,
Using instead Korea Express, which I have used in Korea, Los ANgesles and New Jersey ,, their address in Frankfurt is:

Hee-Man Jeung (Air / Ocean) Manager
============================================
KOREA EXPRESS EUROPE GMBH
CARGO CITY SUED, GEB. 558 E
D-60549 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
TEL: +49-69-686039-70
FAX: +49-69-686039-98 / - 99
MOBILE PHONE: +49-151-5382 - 0845
E-MAIL: hmjeung@korex.co.kr

They have served me right at every port of entry and exit so far.

Hey Joe,

i am living in Germany.
If you need some help or if i should make some phone calls for the bike send me a message. I can phone them up from germany and try to find out whats going on.

@KOREA EXPRESS EUROPE GMBH
CARGO CITY SUED, GEB. 558 E
D-60549 FRANKFURT AM MAIN

--->> this is not in Bremerhaven at the harbour ...
This is in center of germany at Frankfurt International Airport.

I will send you an e-mail as well and .

Have a good trip!

Motravel

Just arrived in Bremerhaven ,, ship arrives tomorrow ,,
I a hearing from Korea Express in Frankfurt that I have to pay 1,700 Euro deposit on the bike until I leave EEC ,,
Does this sound kosher?
Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Absolutely NOT kosher.
Assuming the bike is owned by you--personally--and you are entering Germany/ any EU country as a temporary visitor; no "deposit" or Carnet is necessary.

It's possible that Korea Express is confusing a temporary tourist vehicle import with a commercial vehicle import (which may require some kind of depost--I don't know). Maybe Korea Express simply has no/ little experience with personal temporary vehicle imports.

Motravel above notes that Korea Express is based at Frankfurt airport. Personally-owned tourist bikes are imported and exported out of Frankfurt aiport every day; they should know this. The vehicle import/ export rules should be no different at Bremerhaven seaport than Frankfurt airport.

Clarify your & vehicle status with Korea Express. If, for whatever reason, Korea Express insists on a "deposit," ask for (what they believe is) the legal basis for this depost; and/ or get a different agent in Frankfurt.

I have fired Korea Express,, in contact with a customs agent recommended by Wallenius Line in Bremerhaven.
Following is an EM from Wallenius Import Dept. and their customs agent.

Dear Yun-Soo PARK,

thank you for contacting us.

As you are travelling with non-european good it is required for you to pay a
deposit at the customs office.
Because too many people imported their vehicles stating they just want to
drive it here. This was not the case. They sold there cars here without ever
paying VAT and duty. That is why the deposit has to be paid at the customs
office.

There are 2 possiblities. First is that we issue a transitdocument where you
pay the deposit at the customs. Once the Transitdocument is closed at Latvia
the european border to Russia, the customs office will wire the money back
to your account.
The second possibility is that we issue a touristdeclaration for a period of
6 months within you can use the bike in the european union. The amount you
have to pay at the customs is the same as with the transitdocument. This you
will receive back once the tourist declaration is closed.
If you plan on using the bike before leaving the EU then the second option
is what you need.

For issuing one of these documents we take a charge of 120,00 Euros inkl 19%
VAT.

Please let me know which document you need and if possible, send us all
relevant documents beforehand so we can prepare them.
We would need the value of the car (best is an invoice), your contact
addresses in Russia and the country of shipment, the bill of lading, and a
copy of the title.


With best regards
i.A. Gesa Werner (Auszubildende)


From Wallenius;

HOW TO PICK UP YOUR VEHICLE?

We thank you for having shipped your vehicle with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and hope that the following information will guide you to a smooth pick-up of your vehicle.

A. Which documents are required to pick up your vehicle?

If a Negotiable Bill of Lading was issued at least one Original has to be presented in Bremerhaven. A copy is not sufficient!

If a Non-Negotiable Sea Waybill was issued, you just have to show your identity papers (passport / ID card).

Remark: Should a third person pick up the vehicle, this person should be in the possession of a power of attorney (authorization) and the Original Bill of Lading (if there is any) properly endorsed by you in favour of this third person.


Customs clearance:

After receiving the “Notice of arrival”, please get in contact with our forwarding department in Bremerhaven (contact details are mentioned below).


If you are a member or a dependent of the US Military
a) You need military licence plates.

b) Collect the Customs AE Forms “550” and “190–1AA”.
These forms will be issued on your base.

You are a tourist visiting Europe
a) You need to have a passport or a ‘Green-card’.

b) You have to show the valid registration for your car.

c) You have to deposit a security amount at Germans customs office (appr. 30% of car value).

d) It is important to have an International Green Insurance Card with you. You can get that card from your insurance company or from the German Automobile club “ADAC”.

You are going to live in Germany (emigration)
a) You have to show a valid registration from your new place of residence in Germany, which you will get at the registration office in your town.

b) You have to prove at least one year of residence abroad (e.g. contract of a rented apartment, working contract etc.) and the usage of the car within this period for at least 6 months by yourself (directly prior shipping).

c) A valid registration card of the vehicle is necessary.

d) You have to get temporary licence plates for your car (you will get them from your vehicle registration office at your new residence in Germany).



B. What do I have to pay?

1. Discharge / Release in Bremerhaven
Vehicle up to 2,0 tons EUR 150,00
Vehicle up to 3,5 tons EUR 200,00
Motorcycle EUR 170,00
For boats etc. please contact our office in Bremerhaven

2. 4 calendar days after vessels arrival are free of storage charges. Thereafter following storage fee will be charged:
Vehicles EUR 2,00 per ton/day
Motorcycles EUR 3,70 per ton/day
Boats EUR 3,30 per ton/day

3. The oceanfreight, if payable at destination (collect) plus disbursements, if there are any.

Note: All Bremerhaven port charges have to be paid cash in EURO. The oceanfreight can be paid in US-Dollar. We do not accept Credit cards, cheques or debit cards.


C. What should I do when I am in Europe?

Please contact Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics either in Bremen or in Bremerhaven and ask:

1. When is the vessel supposed to discharge?
2. As from when I can pick up the vehicle?
3. What do I have to pay to pick up (see B)?


Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
Bremerhaven
Am Nordhafen 2
27568 Bremerhaven
Phone:+49 471 94799 - 0
Sebastian Böhm - 30
Thorsten Pszolla - 22
Arno Seichter - 15
Alina Ciezkowski - 32
Astrid Tille - 23
E-mail: firstname.lastname@2wglobal.com

Office hours:
Monday till Friday: 08.30h - 13.00h
14.00h - 16.00h

They're full of it - you don't need to pay any type of deposit. I temporarily imported my bike to Germany last year (through Frankfurt airport) and didn't have to pay anything other than a small customs fee ~ 60 euro.

Contact Jay - he goes by Jammin on advrider, and the same name on the HUBB as well I think. He just went through this, they were telling him the exact same thing shipping through Bremerhaven a couple months ago. He resolved it without paying any deposit. Details are on his ride report of advrider, Jammin through the Global South. I'll try and find the details for you in a bit

C'est la vie ,, times are hard ,, as same as cops in USA ,, trying to raise the revenue by ticketing ,,,,
Thanks to those in the past ,, I am willing to pay the deposit ,, I will get it back ,,, Frau Merkle will not stick me for 1900 Euro ,,
She is too ugly ,,
Any way ,, a warning to non -EEC owner riders ,, who brings in the bike by the sea ,, ( I am sure had I came from the East ,, I could have slipped through the so many borders )
Laws change at a whim,,,
To see the pictures of ,,, my perspective of Bremerhaven ,,
Daum 카페
Ab morgen,,,, Ich nach Hambugh ,, ab 15 uhr ,, aus Bremerhaven ,,,
It is 10PM here ,, and still day light ,, I see now what they mean about Siberian lights ,,

.

Here's Jay's thread post on advrider, from 03/15/2011, when he debarked with bike at Hamburg/ Bremerhaven:
ADVrider - View Single Post - Jammin thru the Global South
"Rolled off the ship and thru customs this morning, but they didn't know what to do with me, so they just let me thru, with no paperwork...?"

That's not enough detail to help seouljoe, but maybe a PM to Jay would get Jay's detail.

MCole is correct that there is no customs deposit required for personally owned temporary non-EU imported bikes at Frankfurt airport

I went to a company that files online either touristtransit or transittransit and paid 120 Euro. Then went to the Wallenius Ro-Ro office and presented my release paper. An employee took me to the warehouse, where my bike was and told me to go.
As I approached the main Zoll gate ,, two guards waved me off and told me to go ,, hmmm ,,
I am now sitting in Hamburg ,,relaxing after a nice Korean dinner ,, gee ,,

Question ,, I will be going through Poland then head for the southern border to Kiev, in Ukraine ,,
From Lublin ,, which border crossing is the best in terms of speed and hassle?

Your comments are much appreciated ,, after Kiev ,, I shall decide to cross Siberia or turn west to Bulgaria, Croatia and Italia.

The Journey
Daum 카페

seouljoe,

Bizarre indeed.

Could you share/ post the company name/ website that you used to arrange the "touristtransit" for 120 Euros ?

You may want to re-post your question re border crossing in a new/ separate thread; it's buried in this "Bremerhaven" thread.

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