Shipping from Central to South America.

This page provides a summary of information about the all shipping companies and agencies that we contacted whilst trying to arrange shipping for our vehicles from Central America (Costa Rica or Panama) to South America (Colombia or Ecuador) in April/May 2006.

The "notes" below are generally the gist of the response we received to a very detailed e-mail asking for a quotation for shipment of three vehicles (with dimensions and weights) between Costa Rica or Panama to Ecuador or failing that anywhere else in South America.

The companies contacted were culled from other web sites, from Google searches and from the shipping notes at XS Memories RV Park near Panama City.

The only company we have experience with is Barwil Agencies, S.A. in Panama. We have however been told that Jochen Walter is very helpful.

Company: Barlovento Agencia Maritima, S.A.
Contact: Milton Madriz.
E-Mail: mmadriz@barloventocr.com
Type: RoRo.
From: Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
To: Colombia, Ecuador.
Notes:

"Please note we have ro-ro vessels subject to confirmation, arriving first week of June, August, October and December, 2006. There is no vessel in May. The schedule is Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador. Normally, port Caldera in Costa Rica is congested. If when vessel is arriving, port is congested, vessel schedule may be changed from Corinto, Nicaragua to Colombia and then Ecuador and Costa Rica. In such case, regret but can not guarantee now service from Costa Rica to Ecuador."

The rate is US$60.00/M3 plus BAF US$70.00/vehicle. You should hire a Customs Broker to arrange Customs documentation, export policy, etc., which cost is around US$120.00. Also, we need to receive confirmation from our Principals that HEIGHT of your vehicle is no problems to accommodate into vessel’s decks.

Company: Barwil Agencies, S.A.
Contact: Evelyn N. Batista.
E-Mail: Evelyn.Batista@barwil.com
Type: RoRo
From: Panama.
To: Colombia.
Notes:

This is the company we used. Highly recommended. See here for more details.

Company: Fletes Consolidados, S.A.
Contact: Roberto A. Vallecilla A.
E-Mail: fletecon@cableonda.net
Type:
From:
To:
Notes:

"From Panama we don't get this this service Roll On Roll Of to Ecuador You should check it from Costa Rica with shipping Line NYK."

Company: Contimar.
Contact:
E-Mail: info@contimar.co.cr, mselva@contimar.co.cr
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: No reply.

Company: CP Ships.
Contact: Fuentes, Johanna
E-Mail: Johanna.Fuentes@cpships.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: "We do not offer service."

Company: Car Carrier Service. CSAV
Contact: José Pedro Valdés C.
E-Mail: jpvaldes@csav.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes:

"Regarding your request, I would like to inform to you that it will not be possible to transport these type of units since the height of your RV´s are taller that the max height that the ship permits. We have a height limitation of 3,00 - 3,10 mts tall, so as you can see we can not transport your units."

Company: Euro-Line Panamericana (Panama), S.A.
Contact: Jochen Walter.
E-Mail: jochen.walter@euro-line-logistics.com
Type:
From: Panama.
To: Ecuador
Notes:

"Unfortunately the only possibility right now to ship overdimensioned cargo to Ecuador is by flatrack. This option is very expensive (our last quote received from CSAV was around USD 8.000.00), because this kind of equipment is not available in Panama and has to brought from other ports.

The only more or less economic steamshipline (SSL) going to Ecuador is CCNI, who does not accept anymore tourist vehicles on flatracks due to past claims from other tourists. There is a RoRo possibility to Venezuela, but they have a long transit time (approx. 3 weeks). We suggested recently to try RoRo ex Pto. Caldera, Costa Rica with SSL NYK to Ecuador, because options ex Panama are outrageously expensive."

Company: IL Logistics
Contact: Catalina Rojas.
E-Mail: crojas@ilglogistics.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes:

"Unfortunately last week our service from Caldera to South America finished. So I can not give you this service. I hope you can find another option."

Company: Improsa
Contact:
E-Mail: crojas@improsa.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: "Your message remains in the server queue, the server will try to send it again. You should not try to resend your message now. No response."

Company: Inter Ocean Lines.
Contact:
E-Mail: info@interoceanlines.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: No response.

Company: Kabat, Sertrans, S.A.
Contact: Rosa Herrera.
E-Mail: rherrera@kabat.co.cr
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: "The contact to Panama for Ocean Freight from Ecuador is: Giovanna Della Sera."

Company: NYK Line (North America) Inc.
Contact: Eric J. Jaworski.
E-Mail: eric.jaworski@na.nykline.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: "Unfortunately we do not offer coverage for your requested port of origin and will be unable to accommodate your cargo."

Company: Sea Board Marine Panama.
Contact: Eric Hansen
E-Mail: ehansen@seaboardmarinepanama.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: We can offer to Cartagena, Colombia. We have weekly departures, on Saturdays, transit time is aprox. 1 day.

Below quote per vehicle:
POL: Cristobal, Panama
POD: Cartagena, Colombia
Mercedes Benz/Unimog u1300 50.07cbm / 7500.00Kgs usd$2503.50

Rates include loading/stuffing in Cristobal port and include off-loading in Cartagena port. Rates DO NOT include terminal handling charges in port of Cartagena, this is invoiced directly to customer by port of Cartagena authorities. Rates do not include local Cristobal port security fees (aprox. usd$10.00 per vehicle). Rates applied are usd$50.00 per cbm (cubic meter).

Freight charges apply on a prepaid basis (payed in Panama), if customer requests collect charges (payed in Colombia) then rates are subject to the following tax: 0.7% /basic ocean freight charge minimum usd$35.00 per B/L. Calculations of ocean freight charges based on weight and measurements provide by customer, vehicles are subject to measurement revision at port of Cristobal.

Company: Sertrans. S.A.
Contact: Noris Ferrín.
E-Mail: nferrin@sertrans.com.pa
Type: RoRo or Flatrack.
From: Panama.
To: Ecuador.
Notes: Quoted $1100 USD!

"Noris Ferrín Customer Services SERTRANS, S.A. Phone: (507)317-6465/67/68/69 Fax: (507) 317-6470 Email: nferrin@sertrans.com.pa www.sertrans.com.pa"

Company: Associated Steamship Agents, S.A.
Contact: Maricarmen García.
E-Mail: flete@shipsagent.com
Type:
From:
To:
Notes: "Buen dia! Sr. Stewart La tarifa para Callao y Guayaquil es la siguiente: $65W/M Port to Port Slds Maricarmen."