Start moving in the
right direction.
Speak to us today to see how we can improve your business logistics, freight and customs related issues.
Freight items that don’t fit into standard 20 or 40 foot sea containers can be shipped as individual units referred to as break bulk (BB) cargo. If possible, they can also be rolled on and off (RORO) special vessels that are not only designed to carry ‘static’ cargo but mobile or wheeled cargo, a solution which is more cost effective than dismantling, packing, shipping, unpacking and then re-assembling oversized freight. As straightforward as it seems, there are still challenges faced by break bulk and roll on / roll off shipments, as these two Clarke Global case studies will demonstrate.
Case study 1: Dumper trucks
Contacted by a U.S. shipping agent, the project for Clarke Global was to collect 5 dumper truck units from an auctioneer in Fremantle in Western Australia and to ship them to Manzanillo, Panama. Due to being oversized and overweight, dumper trucks are typically shipped as individual break bulk cargo. Furthermore, being wheeled cargo, they are able to be rolled on and rolled off special RORO ships.
The first challenge was actually moving these dumper trucks, sold as they were by the auctioneer, with two of the units without batteries in them and three units with flat batteries that needed to be replaced. In addition, there wasn’t any fuel in the tanks. These factors made it impossible to move the units immediately. With only 72 hours of free storage at the auctioneer and to avoid the hefty storage charges thereafter, Director Martin Moyano arranged for a mechanic from Clarke’s trucking company to attend the site within 24 hours. He added new batteries, replaced the old ones, and put fuel in the units, enabling them to be driven to the wharf and onto a RORO vessel.
However with no vessel available on the wharf, and facing the possibility of storage charges again, the next challenge arose. After successful negotiation with a shipping line, Martin was able to secure a smaller (feeder) vessel which took the units to Port Kembla, from where they were transhipped to a larger (mother) vessel to their destination Panama.
Case Study 2: Tipper Trailers
Recently an importer in New Zealand contacted Clarke Global directly to move tipper trailers, as break bulk units from an auctioneer in Fremantle to the wharf for roll on/roll off shipment to Auckland.
No vessel was available in this instance. Therefore to avoid high storage charges at the auctioneer’s site, Martin organised the transport of the trailers to the yard of Clarke’s trucking company for temporary storage, at much lower rates than at the auctioneer’s site where goods sold need to move out quickly. Very little extra was charged for the week to 10 days storage, until a RORO vessel was ready at the wharf.
In both these cases, as vessels were not immediately available, our clients potentially faced high storage charges. If you are able to, it is important to book well in advance for RORO shipping as spaces and vessels can be limited on some routes and times of the year. In general, there are no weekly services as you have with container lines. Depending on the route, RORO and/or break bulk lines may have one vessel sailing per month.
For more information on Break Bulk and RORO shipments, please visit our website, or call the Clarke Global team on 9854 3000, or send us an email to enquiry@clarkeglobal.com.au
Our high-quality, personalised service delivers consistent
results and creative solutions for any logistics problem.
“Excellent service and communication. Martin and his team know how to smoothly handle Amazon FBA deliveries in Australia. Besides, their advice regarding imports regulations and international logistics is really helpful”.
Carlos Altuna, July 2022
Cjaltuna@gmail.com
“The Quang have been doing business with Clarke Global for more than 20 years, the staff is always helpful and complete the job on time.
We appreciated their great job to have our shipment cleared smoothly.”
Connie, July 2022
The Quang Pty Ltd/Nutri Health Food Centre
“Just wanted to let you know we have so much respect and appreciation for you, Assunta and Martin for your services.
We love this group of People and their company.
Assunta and Martin truly care about their customers and the services they provide. They will go above and beyond to make sure you have all the information about your shipment until it gets to destination on time and unharmed.
They come highly recommended, and anyone would be lucky to have them as their agents.”
Fatima Babaei, July 2022
SUN Mining Services
“Martin took on the heavy lifting of local registrations and ingredient specifications in a challenging and complex market. Basically we outsourced the documentation and customs preparation to him. That the restaurant is open and trading is testament that it all went well.”
“According to Martin Moyano “the Grill’d project has been a different service approach for Clarke Global Logistics which usually manages the shipping aspects of clients’ businesses. This focus on business auditing and international trade advice from inception to delivery has been an interesting and educational new challenge.”
Chris Georgiou, February 2020
Grill’d
“Clarke Global imported a 40 foot container [of recreational paddle boats and parts] for me from Michigan U.S. This was my first overseas purchase and it could not have been easier, Martin and Assunta organised everything and I did very little.
My emails were responded to from Martin and Assunta so fast that I thought they were working 24 hours a day.
I will use Clarke Global again and would recommend them to you.”
Greg, October 2017
Lane Cove Boatshed
“After using tricky flights of stairs, the delivery teams put the heavy furniture shipment from Bali safely in place and took the rubbish away. The Sydney team arranged a lifter for the windows, four trucks for the wharf and basically worked all day, unpacking!”
Victoria McKeown, February 2017
Atomic 212
“Initially the plan was to ship the car [Landcruiser] back from Los Angeles to Fremantle after completing World Motor Challenge. We contacted three shipping organisations, Clarke Global being one of them.
The Landcruiser arrived in Fremantle unscathed. Australian Customs charged approximately $325 to give it a steam clean (which was in Martin’s quote as a Provisional Item), everything else was covered in the quote!
To say my wife Lynn and I are happy with Clarke Global’s service is an understatement.”
Alan Clarke, February 2017
“I searched for a while in Australia to find a shipper that was even interested in shipping my bike to the middle east, particularly as I wanted to send it by air. I finally came across Clarke Global, who turned out to be great. Importantly, as I was transporting by air, they use airlines that designate bikes as Non-DG or ‘non-dangerous goods’, which pretty much halved the price from the other quotes I got.
I was stoked with Clarke Global performance and professionalism – I’d definitely use them again.”
Damien Coke, September 2013
“My partner and I decided to import a caravan recently from the UK. Finding a local agent to facilitate the process can be a daunting task.
The team at Clarke Global were very professional, the quote was clear and itemised and the communication was brilliant. We were kept informed throughout the whole process and we received our caravan on time and without any hassles or complications.
Thank you very much Clarke Global team and especially Assunta and Martin for your assistance. It was a pleasure dealing with you and I would definitely be recommending your services to anyone that asks.”
Tom and Bashar, June 2015
“I recently imported a caravan from the UK and asked if they could recommend a customs agent. Clarke Global was nominated.
They kept me informed as to the ship movements and estimated arrival date. They replied promptly to all my queries and arranged for the unpacking of the caravan from its container, inspection by Dept. of Agriculture, Customs clearance and port handling.
The caravan was in excellent condition. I can recommend their service and would use them again should I have need of a Customs Agent.”
Denis Pickwell, May 2015
From Brisbane
“Thanks Martin for your assistance in the speedy delivery of our Caravan. A special thanks to Assunta for her courteous and efficient manner in which she helped us with a few small problems we had. Once again thankyou … I will have no hesitation in recommending your company to anyone wishing to import and in need of a Customs Agent.”
David and Helen, November 2014
Carlos Altuna, July 2022
Cjaltuna@gmail.com
Connie, July 2022
The Quang Pty Ltd/Nutri Health Food Centre
Fatima Babaei, July 2022
SUN Mining Services
Chris Georgiou, February 2020
Grill’d
Greg, October 2017
Lane Cove Boatshed
Victoria McKeown, February 2017
Atomic 212
Alan Clarke, February 2017
Damien Coke, September 2013
Tom and Bashar, June 2015
Denis Pickwell, May 2015
From Brisbane
David and Helen, November 2014
Speak to us today to see how we can improve your business logistics, freight and customs related issues.