Air Freight Australia - South Korea and then on to Vladivostok - July 2011

[navalarchitect]

I'm shipping a KLR650 from Sydney to Seoul (Incheon) in a few days time so I thought I would post my experiences / cost for those of you in the planning stages:

• Shipping agent, Sydney, Australia: Geodis Wilson. I think I may be the first bike they've done - it certainly generated some interest. They've been very good and communicative.
• Cost: $2350 total from their depot to the runway in Seoul. This includes them organising the Dangerous Goods paperwork.
• Dangerous Goods - when I was shopping around I got various views/instructions as to what needed to be done to the bike. The most common was 1/4 tank or less of fuel, battery disconnected, oil in engine OK. However some insisted all petrol out and oil out - apparently different companies and airlines have their own rules that they apply on top of the international regulations. So it pays to ask - draining the oil would be a pain but I know of people who have had to do it.
• Timing: Shipping companies are all used to frieghting goods at short notice. When you, as a nervous first timer, phone up 6 months in advance you will get a polite but generally uninterested response. Solid contact about 4-6 weeks out seems to work.
• Crating: I used a Triumph pallet - these made of metal with fork lift points, tie down points, wheel guides etc.. They have metal arches that go over the top of the bike which then support the cardboard side and top. They are beautifully made and free from the local dealer as he sends them up the tip. The downside of themetal pallet is you cannot tailor the size to minimise it to suit your bike. For me this meant I ended up on a pallet a bit longer than strictly necessary, the benefit was I could leave the front wheel on and dismantling was limited to removing the handlebars to reduce width and sliding forks upthrough triple clamps to reduce height. Downside was cost increased by about $200-$300. If you want to minimise cost BMW crates are also easily available and wood and hence more customisable. One interesting comment from the shipping agent was it was much better the bike was fully covered and not visible - he said airlines always give them much more trouble when the goods can be seen and problems can be imagined than with innocuous plain packages.
• Additional luggage in crate with bike: I was told strictly no - although I know of others who have successfully done it. I didn't push it (other than making sure all spares and tools were strapped on to the frame) as I thought if I have to carry it all to the aircraft it will make sure I keep my load to 25kg and not overpack.
• Transport in Korea from Seoul to ferry port - Donghae. You can temporarily import and then ride or you can arrange shipment on a truck "in bond". I have chosen the transport in-bond for simplicity although I think it is slightly more expensive and it has been quoted to me as $600-$700 by Wendy Choi (wendychoi2-at-gmail dot com) - based on the contact to date she really does seem to be as efficient as everyone else has reported here on the HUBB.
• Ferry Donghae Korea - Vladivostok. This is run by DSB Cruise and Wendy Choi will make a booking for you. Cost is about $500 you and bike. Sailings are weekly leaving on a Sunday and apparently very busy throughout July and August. Pre-booking is recommended - without Wendy (and also advice from another HUBB regular in Korea Seouljoe) my trip planning almost collapsed before I had left Australia.

All the best and happy planning.