Hello fellows,

After a request I got of one of my fellow bikers I like to inform you as closely as possible about the procedure and costs to ship your bike from Greece (Lavrio) to Israel (Haifa).

The company which is involved with the shipping is called: Salamis Shipping and located in Athens. To be more precise in Piraeus.

Contact details are listed below:

Mina Christodoulou
Salamis Shipping S.A.
5 - 7, Filellinon Str.
Piraeus 185 36 Greece
Tel: +30 210 4529555, 4294325
Fax: + 30 210 4525344
e-mail: mchristo@salamis-hellas.gr

If you want you can arrange everything by email, but what I did was going to the office in Piraeus and arrange there the paperworks, what was done in 15 minutes. At the office they will give you all the necessary contact details for the port in Greece and the port in Israel.

The ferry goes every Monday and Thursday. You have to deliver your bike at the port of Lavrio between 08.00 and 12.00 the same day. Lavrio is around 80 km south of Athens. (arrange transport back to Athens or the Airport)

It will take three days for the ferry to reach Haifa and the fourth day you can pick up your bike. If you are heading to haifa by train get out at the main train station. When you get out of the train station and you face the mountains cross parking area and the road. After crossing the road turn left, to enter the building take the nearest door. Beside the door you will find the name Rooseveld shipping. If I'm right the third floor.

At Rossenveld shipping they will ask you to pay in cash an amount of 2450 SIN. You can get money at the ATM close by the building. Facing the train station go to the right, first right first left and walk another 200m and the ATM is at your right hand. This is the ATM which accept foreigner cards !!!!!!!!

The paperwork at Rossenveld shipping takes you only 30 till 45 minutes, but the hardest time has still to come. The clearing of your bike at the port across the road. Walk towards the bridge you see and from the first checkpoint on take your time, around five hours) to finnish the paperwork. After the first checkpoint take the stairs down to street level and go ahead till you see a little white building at your right which looks like empty. The door is just around the corner and this is the building where you will return different times. Where and how to go to the other building will be explained by the people who works there.

The costs you are going to face are another 254 SIN as a port fee at the port office.

Note:
Since the ferry is a cargo ferry only, you have to book your self a ticket to Israel. I used the Airline company AEGEAN from Athens to Tel-Aviv for only €169. This was a flight which left Athens at 22.30 and arrived in Tel-Aviv at 00.30 the next day. I had booked a night in the "Old Jaffa hostel" in Old-Jaffa. The taxis at night from the airport till Old Jaffa hostel has a fixed price. The good thing of those taxi's is that the don't rip you of and drop you of at the front door of the hostel.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Cheers Richard