Shipping large rib

[PCDiver]

Hi all,

I need some advise on how to ship a large rib overseas. We need to ship our rib (Explorer Marine - 10 meters long - 2.8 meters wide with deflated tubes - 3.2 meters wide with inflated tubes) from Cornwall to Curacao. A normal sea container (80 feet) would be the most economic option. The problem is the width of the boat. It does not fit in the container. The container door is only 2.34 meters wide. So we have to put it in at an angle. Any advise on how this can be done? The other option would be to put the rib on a flatbed container. But that doubles or triples the shipping cost, because they charge for all the space they cannot use.

All info very welcome.

[Alan]

Errm, normal sea container is 20 or 40ft not 80ft. I know you can get extra high containers but not as far as I am aware extra wide. Sounds like what you really need is a RoRo service so you can ship it on its trailer. Would've thought Southampton to Miami would be doable and then presumably there is some supply or feeder service from Miami to Curacao? Gonna be expensive though!

[PCDiver]

Yep you're right. It's 40 not 80. I know it's gonna be expensive. Shipping a normal 40 ft sea container is around 4000€. For an oversized flatbed container we got quoted 8200 UKP. Ouch.

The rib does not come with a trailer. It's too heavy, too wide and too long to comfortably pull it with a 4 x 4. It will be in a marina when not in use.

[Alan]

Might be worth getting a yard trailer made up? Not road legal but Ok for shifting it around a yard and storage on ship. Alternatively I think some RoRo services have skid trailers that they can put non wheeled cargo on. The people who ship yachts around are Peters and May in Southampton - http://www.petersandmay.co.uk/ - might be worth getting a quote from them?

[tim griffin]

can you not have a cradle made on an angle like the ones they use to move around the large powerboats,so it will fit ,through the containers doors could be a cheaper option and you then could sell the cradle on and recover some of the costs
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[PCDiver]

Hi Tim,

any idea what such a cradle would cost? Do you perhaps have a picture of such a cradle?

Alan,

I requested a quote from Peters & May. They have a Caribbean service, but only to Tortola. We might have to drive the rib from Tortola to Bonaire. That would be interesting.

[tim griffin]

no ideas on cost you would have to speak to your local welders as it would be a one off cradle built for your hull shape maybe ,Cookee or Adam Younger
who are both in the racing game could point you in the right direction, both are on ribnet and would more than likely have a better idea of who could make or even supply such a cradle, sorry not much use to you.
regards tim ps what about john at www.quinquari.co.uk they build fit out large ribs maybe they would have some ideas
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[batfalcon]

... Maybe it will cost you less if the "Soltron Atlantic Challenge" crew, made that pass with your boat as well.

[codprawn]

What you need to do is find the oldest and roughest looking general purpose merchant ship and offer the captain some money to take it as deck cargo - this is done more often than you may think - after all look how many times ships carry illegal immegrants.

Also don't totally discount air - sometimes it is no more expensive than sea but may be for something that big!

[Alan]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Also don't totally discount air - sometimes it is no more expensive than sea but may be for something that big!

Erm, I ship lots of containers and unfortunately lots of air at times from Far East to UK and I can tell you that airfreight is generally 20 times the cost of seafreight!