FREIGHT

There are two ways to ship household goods on boats: in full container loads and less than full container loads.

Less than full container loads: Consolidation in Crates and Pallets

Many people send their lifts in “consolidation.” Kef packs a 40-foot container—about 2,000 cubic feet NET—with the belongings of 2-10 people. Each person’s goods are crated in wooden boxes, or bound on wooden pallets, though major appliances are often shipped loose. Each individual shipper has his own documentation, and there is a group document as well. When the container arrives at the port, it takes from 5-8 days for the container to be unloaded and documents to be prepared for each of the consignees.

Inside measurements of a standard crate are ~ 88” wide, ~84” height, depth variable. Externally in meters 2.2m x 2.2m x 1.2m.

Full container loads

The alternative to shipping in consolidation is shipping your own container. Kef hires a container, either a 20 foot long one, or a 40, or an extra high 40, then fills this container with your goods and brings it to the ship. In many urban areas (particularly NYC Metro Area) the container will NOT be loaded at your house. If you want this option, it must be specified, as "Load Container At House". This option might NOT always be available and it is very unlikely to be used where there are two pickup locations. For larger containers, typically the packing work is done on one day the loading and sealing on the following.

One advantage of shipping in your own container is that the door of the container is closed with a visibly sealed lock. It is easier for the Customs Clearer to see if the seal is intact and to report any irregularity before passing through Customs. If there is no customs inspection, the seal should not be broken until the container arrives at your home. Containers can fit unusually large items—such as a car—or unusually shaped items that would otherwise require the construction of a specially shaped crate.

The internal measurements of containers are as follows:
20 foot : L 5.9 m, W 2.35 m, H 2.35, door opening: W 2.343 m, H 2.278.
40 foot: L 12.0 m, W 2.35 m, H 2.395 m, door opening: W 2.343 H 2.280.

How quickly do you need to clear a container?
Containers must be cleared and delivered within four days of arrival in Israel. After that time, container rental and port storage fees add up at a rate of between $25-60/day for rental of the container and port fees.

If you have a lot of space around your house in Israel, you might consider purchasing a shipping container. This eliminates about half of the costs of leaving a container at the port and is only possible by pre-arrangement with the shipping company, forwarder. Costs of purchase are approximately $1,600 for a used 40-foot container and $900 for a used 20-foot container. Once you are finished using them, you can resell them in Israel for about ½ what you paid. Remember to have the code numbers on the container removed before you ship.

Factors that influence the relative costs per cubic foot of shipping in consolidation or in your own container

1. Where you ship from. The further you are from a major port, the greater the merits of a container, because consolidations are harder to come by and more expensive.

2. How much of the container you fill. The fuller it is, the better the value.

3. How much packing there is to be done. The most expensive part of shipping is not the freight…it’s the packing and loading.

4. The steamship company. Zim tends to be the priciest. Other companies with less direct routes can be less expensive.

Telling Kef that you are ready to ship:
Whichever way you ship, make sure that it is clear to Kef--and to yourself—who has authority to say that the shipment is complete and ready to ship. Not doing so could result in a split shipment—the loss of one of your three tax-free shipments, double port fees, double documentation fees, double clearing and delivery fees.

Timing your shipment
How long do you have to notify Kef that you want goods picked up?
In the winter, just a few days is enough. During the spring and summer, three weeks may not be. Appliances, unless you’re informed otherwise, are generally deliverable to the forwarder within one week. Dacor and Viking can take 2-5 weeks to get to the forwarder. And specific models of even the most popular and reasonably priced brands and models can suddenly and inexplicably become unavailable. So order early.

If the appliances arrive with 10 days to spare before a boat sails, chances are the shipper will find room and time to pack them and get them aboard. On the other hand, the consolidator may not have room in one of his containers for a shipment your size, or he may not have enough consolidations to make it worthwhile to ship a container yet. Most steamship companies have ships leaving every two weeks for Israel.

Direct shipments take 15-22 days from the North-East Coast, 30 days from Miami, 25 days from Houston, 30-40 days from the West.

If you are shipping an exclusive container (FCL), getting it onto a boat and clearing and delivering on the Israel side usually each take a week or less. If you are shipping less than a full container (LCL), figure two weeks on each side.

Getting a volume estimate
You can do this in one of three ways: