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