Shipping Japan to USA, RoRo ferry?
 

Hi everyone,

I’m on the road finally for my RTW trip and if I make Vladivostok and the DBS ferry to Japan, then I’m looking to ship my bike from a Japanese port to any port on the West Coast of the USA. I know air freight is an option but I’ve been looking at RoRo ferries as they’re cheaper but don’t take many weeks like container shipping.

Does anyone have any experience or advice for shipping from Japan to the US?

I found one entry on the HUBB shipping database and have followed up with the company mentioned (interfracht.de) but they have gone quiet after forwarding my question / quote to he Japanese office. I’ve sent off for quotes from a couple of other companies I found on google, but any tips or advice would he greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much!
Mark

Try the Interfracht office in Japan directly. They seem to be the best nowadys. Expect to crate though. I don't think they do RO/RO. Also consider Vancouver. Shipping to the US seems to be a real hassle lately with lots of red tape.

Thanks! Okay will check that out. Only problem is I live in Canada (in Quebec) and have PR status so can’t get a temporary import permit. Luckily the bike is over 15 years old so I can import even if it’s not made for the US market, but not sure if / how I can register a vehicle in BC though.

Hi
I'm going to leave from France for world tour in a few days. I had joined Interfracht who is able to ship my bike to Seattle. They sent me a quotation. They told me that since January RoRo don't ship owner's vehicules anymore
Mark, have you joined DBS Ferry yet ? I sent them an Email last week, but no answer yet. On their Website, I don't know how to check for a motorbike.

I also didn't get a response from DBS Ferry on the Vladivostok side. Tatiane on Japanese side does respond quick enough but she cannot make a quote.

Hmm, no I haven’t contacted the DBS ferry yet. I will try myself. Please let me know if you get a response. I thought I would try and leave this one until I’m in Vladivostok but I guess you think it’s something that needs to be sorted before I arrive?

Damn I think container shipping is probably too slow for my needs, maybe a month between Japan and the US would be my max, I could stay with a friend in the US in the meantime. Will try interfracht again.

Thanks!

Here are some answers + quote i got from Yusuke of Air Sea Express:

"If you are not American, it is very troublesome and difficult to send to USA.
I recommend to ship to Vancouver."
"From Tokyo would be better."

Quote:
I thought I've done enough shippings to understand acronyms and measures, wrong, i couldn't fully decipher this quote yet.
My best guess: a bike crated as 3cbm would be around 1060usd (250 usd more per additional cbm) on the japanese side.


Just a side-note, I'm amazed how many good English answers I get sending mails to Japanese companies and Authorities (carnet/jaf...), when I was there last year almost nobody spoke English :thumbup1:

another answer just in :(:

Hi everyone
I just realized that DBS Ferry had answered me from April 11th! But the Email was arrived in spam file!
The price for a motorbike and passenger is 942 US dollards (about 800€)
It's possible to book ticket from 3 months in advance. (Maybe in summer there're more passengers)
The Email adress in Vladivostok : olga@dbsferry.com
Be carefull, that Emails don't arrive in spam file that it arrived to me

Below, Email I received

HELLO,
DO YOU HAVE INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE geneva convention 1949 AND CARNET DE PASSAGE?
WOULD YOU SEND THE PASSPORT SCAN FOR THE RESERVATION?
OCEAN FREIGHT FOR THE BIKE IS 600 USD
LOADING FEE IS 1600 RUBLES
RUSSIAN CUSTOMS FEE IS 150 USD
PASSENGER TICKET IS 156 USD
THANK YOU
받는 사람 : dbsferry@dbsferry.com
메일 제목 : Shipping motorbike from Vladivostok to Japan

Ouch, $900+ for a one way ferry ride! For some reason I thought it was more like $500...

Thanks for the replies regarding shipping to the US also, looks like I might have to start considering air freight :(

If anyone manages to find a decent ferry / sea option please let me know. I’ll do some more digging myself when I get some time. Maybe importers that import cars / bikes to the US from Japan? Hmm.

Have you checked Air Canada Cargo? They do spectacularly good rates to/from Canada for bikes. There's at least a couple of threads here on the details.
Good luck, and do let us know how you do.

It used to be cheaper. A few years they raised the price.

I don't know if would be any cheaper overall, but you could take DBS to Korea (they have the monopoly at the time for Russia-Korea ferry travel, I thing). From Busan, there is a short ferry to Hakata (Fukuoka), Japan.
At least you would get another country into your trip.

I’ll check it out. Hopefully the paperwork for getting into bike to Korea is simple!

Well, I would like to have a quote so I know the price (although I have an estimate already)
And such a quote I would be able to show that we (and the car) don't intend to stay in the country for whichever paperwork. I don't expect to need this at all though, I don't expect difficulties there.

When the date of the ferry crossing comes closer, I would at some point like to reserve a spot. Like a few weeks before. They go every Wednesday I think.

I just reread the email from Tatiana, who says booking is required and closes 1 week before.

We want to go somewhere in September probably. Maybe beginning of October.

Thanks for the info. I sent e-mails on 3rd of April and 17th of April but didn't get anything back, also not in my spam folder.

Earlier I got some basic price info from Tatiana, who is not in Vladivostok.

Fares to Japan:
passenger economy class ticket fare 265
Ocean freight 600 USD compact car / 700 USD SUV/RV / 800 USD van / camp car 900 USD / please, ask for price for bigger cars
Port fees in Vladivostok are charged separately
Port fees in Sakaiminato are charged separately (total 11,320 JPY (agent commission not included; it is required if paperwork is done by agent))

Booking is required. Booking is closed in a week before departure.