Shipping an engine to Australia - any experiences?

[MadeinWigan]

I'm breaking a car and have had enquiries about getting the engine shipped over to Perth. I'm looking for a door to door service but so far i'm drawing a blank. I've had quotes for around £170 to get the engine to a port in Australia, it's getting from the port to the customer address that is causing a headache.

Has anyone any ideas, experience that they could share?

Thanks

[MadeinWigan]

Ta, the other chap is looking into it as well. Hopefully we'll find a solution.

[LuS1fer]

Slip it in amongst the criminals? Have we stopped doing that yet?

[mat777]

Be very careful what you ship it in. Australian customs are serious cleanliness freaks and obsessed about not introducing natural materials into the country in case they are "infected".

Ship it in a metal container with polystyrene packing or similar - whatever you do, do not use wood or cardboard

[MadeinWigan]

Hmm, that's interesting. I've seen one of those customs programmes where they decontaminate the shipment but I hadn't considered wooden pallets being forbidden.

May have to look for a plastic pallet.

[WeirdNeville]

It will need to be scrupulously clean too, no fluids, no oil on it, no dirt, and you need to make it clear to the buyer that whilst you will do your best they will have to bear the costs of any customs clearance, duties etc as they can quickly run into hundreds (or thousands) of pounds.

Try PSS, they mainly do removals but I'm sure they could advise on the best way or. shipper who can help.

[mat777]

Well this is all advice from granddad who shipped a motorbike engine out there a few years back, he ended up using an old ammo tin.

Thoroughly steam clean the engine and the shipping box too.

[Andy_sx]

Just sent you an email, I do this for a living

[MadeinWigan]

Thanks Andy, I'll get an email over to you in the morning.