From Italy, France or Spain to Australia
 

After being on the road for 14 months we have run out of money. We need to get our 2 Honda Shadows home to Newcastle, Australia.
Should we send them from Genoa, Marseille or Barcelona or try and make it to the UK and send them fron there. Has anyone had any dealings with shipping agents that could help us. We are open to any suggestions.
We are leaving Rome tomorrow so perhaps Italy is out as we may be almost finished in Italy by the time you read this. Thanks.

Hi David and Cheryl

Assume you are looking for sea freight and will not be in a hurry for the bike at the other end. If Italy is too late, I'd suggest Barcelona rather than Marseilles. Having been to Marseilles, I wouldn't recommend shipping from there. It has a bad reputation and it was the one place in Europe where we really worried about bike theft.

Since shipping by sea is a dodgier operation than air shipping, I would go with an international company, but that's just because I have low risk tolerance. And I would also not just pick an agent out of the yellow pages, I would go with the local office of an international company. So, here are a couple of possibilities.


APL is an international transport agency which has a website: www.apl.com

They list weekly service from Genoa to Sydney, taking 31 days. It looks like the same boat starts in Genoa, then picks up in Barcelona, and in Australia drops off in Sydney and other locations. So you could pick it up in Genoa, or in Barcelona.

Their agent in Barcelona is MacAndrews SA
Barcelona, Spain
MacAndrews SA
Plaza Duque de Medinaceli 5
08002 Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 3440400
+34 93 3440401

In case you encounter language difficulties, APL's European operation is headquartered in UK:

Europe
Eagle Court
9 Vine Street
Uxbridge, UB8 1QE
Middlesex, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 01895-202600
Fax: +44 01895-202606


Another possibility is P&O Nedlloyd, also an international company with offices in 150 countries and a website: www.ponl.com

Their Barcelona office is at:

P&O NEDLLOYD LTD. Sucursal en Espana.
DIPUTACION 303
2A PLANTA
08009 BARCELONA, SPAIN
Tel: +34 93 272 3240
Fax: +34 93272 3241
E-mail: SPAIN.BCN@PONL.COM

Again, if you have language difficulties, try their Southampton, England office:
P&O NEDLLOYD LTD
RICHMOND HOUSE,
TERMINUS TERRACE,
SOUTHAMPTON, SO14 3PL,
ENGLAND,
UNITED KINGDOM

Tel: +44 23 8053 3200
Fax: +44 23 805 33253

Looks like P&O run every couple of weeks from Barcelona to Sydney, taking 25 days to arrive. To check for other ports, look under E-Commerce on their home page for Vessel Schedule.

Sorry your travels have to end - it really is a bummer when you run out of money! Good luck and safe trip home.

Susan

hi guys, thanks for the reply on my request to go to Indonesia. Remember we met in Bkk, Thailand. So you made it to Europe, very good. For shipping out of Europe I would try Rotterdam, but of course I have never shipped out of Europe. Have fun and hope to meet you soon again MIKA