09-06-2007, 05:12 AM
For those folks out there contemplating owning and shipping your own shipping container, buyer beware!!
This is not intended to say ownership is a bad thing or it is problematic buying and arranging shipment of your own container, however it has come to me that it is the first place one learns to jump through hoops in your journey to paradise.
I recently spoke of purchasing a new/used one trip container that was deemed ISO, International Shipping Organization, certified by the sellar and that its certification was good until 2012 which is confirmed by the CSC Safety Plate affixed to the rear door of all certifed seaworthy containers. I will also mention that in this case the unit was manufactured April 2007. Ought to be a piece of cake shipping this right?
Yes, BUT it seems that our selection of shipping companys, Matsons who, by the way, has been great so far gave us our first hoop to jump through and requires documentation of its seaworthiness. They suppose, that the sellar would naturally provide this doc and I concured. Well the sellar had a different take in that the only documentation would be a sales receipt as is where is and the placard affixed to the rear door was evidence enough for them.
Hmmmm Ok who out there makes this process move forward at this point. Well he/she is called a Marine Surveyor specializing in cargo equipment. Not just any surveyor will do.
Wouldn't you know it, neither the sellar or the shipper could give direct info where to or how to find this person. Well after several hours of point and click here are some things i came up with which I'm sure will save many others from pulling hair, fortunately I still have plenty to pull
The first learning experience was found at
http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/st...01_02.html
a very in dept manual on terminology regarding shipping containers and all the letters/numbers you find on them. Knowing this info before purchasing tells all you need to know about each specific container you see. Very cool stuff...
The next hopping place was http://www.marinesurvey.org a listing of all marine surveyors nation wide. Here i thought I would find the person i needed. Here is where I found that all surveyors are not common. There are surveyors for all things marine and a cargo surveyor is what you'll need. I might add here if you are not close to a shipping port cargo surveyors might just be in short supply. Anyway After several phone calls I was told to perhaps check out NAMS, National Association of Marine Surveyors, http://www.nams-cms.org/ here is where I found the only person within hundreds of miles of my location that was qualified to perform an inspection and as luck would have it I caught the fellow before he retired, that is to say he was no spring chicken. Whew! 18 hours in this search so far, thinking I was doomed from getting Matsons the documentation they would need.
This fellow, in our conversation spoke of the National Container Bureau who he was affiliated with and that he primarily consulted on insurance claims but did do this inspection once before about a year ago for another couple moving goods to Hawaii through Matsons.... I've employed his services and inspection is in the process as I type. This is unfortunately not cheap though, according to
http://www.natcargo.org/
the average std inspection cost is 180.00 plus mileage I was quoted approx 240.00 but the job is done and the required documentation will be acceptable by Matsons for a period of one year.
Some would say building a 160 square ft storage shed would be less money and they might be right but I find comfort in knowing that a container is forever as mobile and indestructable a storage unit as one could ask for. never know when you might have to packup and hit the high-road. Eh?
So in closing I say beware should anyone think it is as simple as passing a card or signing a check But the links i've provided will definately help anyone with the process, Enjoy
Aloha HADave
This is not intended to say ownership is a bad thing or it is problematic buying and arranging shipment of your own container, however it has come to me that it is the first place one learns to jump through hoops in your journey to paradise.
I recently spoke of purchasing a new/used one trip container that was deemed ISO, International Shipping Organization, certified by the sellar and that its certification was good until 2012 which is confirmed by the CSC Safety Plate affixed to the rear door of all certifed seaworthy containers. I will also mention that in this case the unit was manufactured April 2007. Ought to be a piece of cake shipping this right?
Yes, BUT it seems that our selection of shipping companys, Matsons who, by the way, has been great so far gave us our first hoop to jump through and requires documentation of its seaworthiness. They suppose, that the sellar would naturally provide this doc and I concured. Well the sellar had a different take in that the only documentation would be a sales receipt as is where is and the placard affixed to the rear door was evidence enough for them.
Hmmmm Ok who out there makes this process move forward at this point. Well he/she is called a Marine Surveyor specializing in cargo equipment. Not just any surveyor will do.
Wouldn't you know it, neither the sellar or the shipper could give direct info where to or how to find this person. Well after several hours of point and click here are some things i came up with which I'm sure will save many others from pulling hair, fortunately I still have plenty to pull
The first learning experience was found at
http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/st...01_02.html
a very in dept manual on terminology regarding shipping containers and all the letters/numbers you find on them. Knowing this info before purchasing tells all you need to know about each specific container you see. Very cool stuff...
The next hopping place was http://www.marinesurvey.org a listing of all marine surveyors nation wide. Here i thought I would find the person i needed. Here is where I found that all surveyors are not common. There are surveyors for all things marine and a cargo surveyor is what you'll need. I might add here if you are not close to a shipping port cargo surveyors might just be in short supply. Anyway After several phone calls I was told to perhaps check out NAMS, National Association of Marine Surveyors, http://www.nams-cms.org/ here is where I found the only person within hundreds of miles of my location that was qualified to perform an inspection and as luck would have it I caught the fellow before he retired, that is to say he was no spring chicken. Whew! 18 hours in this search so far, thinking I was doomed from getting Matsons the documentation they would need.
This fellow, in our conversation spoke of the National Container Bureau who he was affiliated with and that he primarily consulted on insurance claims but did do this inspection once before about a year ago for another couple moving goods to Hawaii through Matsons....
I've employed his services and inspection is in the process as I type. This is unfortunately not cheap though, according to http://www.natcargo.org/
the average std inspection cost is 180.00 plus mileage I was quoted approx 240.00 but the job is done and the required documentation will be acceptable by Matsons for a period of one year.
Some would say building a 160 square ft storage shed would be less money and they might be right but I find comfort in knowing that a container is forever as mobile and indestructable a storage unit as one could ask for. never know when you might have to packup and hit the high-road. Eh?
So in closing I say beware should anyone think it is as simple as passing a card or signing a check But the links i've provided will definately help anyone with the process, Enjoy
Aloha HADave
Aloha HADave & Mz P
Hawaiian Acres
The best things in life are free.... or have no interest or payments for one full year.
Hawaiian Acres
The best things in life are free.... or have no interest or payments for one full year.