Importing a 5th wheeler from the USA is a very daunting procedure, as we have to leave everything in the hands of other people. Finding the right shipping agent is a challenge, some are very helpful and give you lots of confidence, some are helpful, but have an accent that is very hard to understand. I have purchased the Rockwood 5th wheeler in Indiana, very close to the place of manufacture. It is approx 940km to the port of Baltimore on the East Coast of USA. It is over 3500km to several ports on the West Coast of USA from the dealership. I have been told by some to go via the west coast, others have said the east coast is better. I asked both the shipping agents and the 5th wheeler dealership to organise the pickup and delivery from the dealership to the port of departure. I finally went with Wana RV, they were both cheaper and easier to get everything organised. It looks like the 5th wheeler will be shipped with Wallenius Wilhelmsen shipping on the “Fidelio”. They call in at several ports around Australia, I plan to ship into Melbourne, my next challenge will be to organise transport into Tasmania. Do I arrange to pick it up myself or arrange a 3rd party to get the process done.
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/process_overview.aspx
https://www.dazmac.com.au/caravan-motorhome-import.html
The Import Permit is the start of the compliance process, I used the “Small Trailer Option”. This option applies to any trailer or caravan that has ATM (total loaded weight) of less than 4500kg. You need several processes in place before you can start the permit application. I was going to get the shipping agent to do the process for me as it seemed very daunting, however I did do it myself as it was going to save some time. Each section of the process was able to be saved and very easy to go back to. I did mess up my first attempt, I was trying to import 2 different vehicles and export one all at the same time. I started again and it all worked well, almost certainly operator error. I was told I could ship before the Import Permit was granted, as it had a 20 working day timeline. Delays in getting a shipping booking meant the permit was granted on the same day that my sailing date was confirmed.
The link below is the new procedure for importing a low ATM trailer, they have changed the rules
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/rvs/low-atm-trailers
Every step needs to be completed before the next step commences, you need a VIN number before you can try to fill out an Import Permit, you can’t get the VIN number before the 5th wheeler gets delivered to the dealership. You need to do the Import Permit application before they will arrange a shipping booking. What could of been organised in a week or two has turned to six or seven weeks. I realise there is a process that needs to be followed, however it is very frustrating and slow especially when your waiting to take delivery in Australia. Timeline as of June 21st was delivery to Dealership in Indiana was May 19th, Import Permit application started 23rd May, the application was received and started on May 25, application granted on June 18th, booking also confirmed on May 18 for a July 3rd delivery and July 4th sailing from Baltimore. All being well it should arrive in Melbourne on August 11th. I will have to arrange delivery from Melbourne to Tasmania before then. I have 2 options, one is to go over and pick it up personally or arrange for either Searoads or Toll to deliver to Tasmania. Both options will cost around $2000 at a guesstimate.
Electrical certification is one step to complying, you need to have an electrician fill out a form to say they will do all the modifications before you can get an Import Permit
Getting a gas certificate is going to be the most involved and finding somone who has done the process before is the way to go. I have found someone who has already done a conversion and he was also required to fill out a form to say he would do the conversion as part of the Import Permit application.
I was required to sign off that I would be doing all the 12v modifications and ADR compliance as well for the Import Permit application.
Lots of paperwork was needed to organise shipping, they needed photos of the 5th wheeler, photos of all sorts of specification stickers from the 5th wheeler, they needed all the dimensions, they needed Free Trade Agreement documents, they need a Letter of Authority (let them act for me). I needed to fill out a Gas Exemption Form (for low volume importing of restricted gases “refrigerant gas in air conditioner and 12v fridge”), this was a bonus as I had been told that I would need to degas both before importing. I also had to supply a build sheet and an invoice for the 5th wheeler as well as a Drivers Licence for proof of identity. I also had to organise Marine Insurance to cover transport from the dealership in Indiana to my home in Penguin, Tasmania. Insurance through my local insurance broker was cheaper and covered the cost of transport and shipping as well, the import agents option was very limiting. They would only cover initial purchase price.
Getting everything organised for shipping is also challenging, I have been told I don’t need to remove the refrigerant gas from the air conditioning and refrigerator as it is for personal and low volume use. Ozone depleting substance equipment: From 1 January 2020, low volume imports of HCFC equipment without a licence will no longer be allowed. From then, unless the import is for personal use, HCFC equipment can only be imported under an equipment licence, and only if it meets strict criteria.
I don’t have to remove the batteries, although some have said it is needed. Gas bottles must have never been filled with gas, they do come to dealership empty and I have told them not to fill them. I also have to see if I need to organise fumigation. Brown marmorated stink bug is a major problem and an expensive problem to overcome, it even has a website dedicated about it. If I ship after May 1st I do not need to have this done.
As of 21/6/2021 the import process has been lodged and granted and a sailing date of July 4th has been booked, it is a frustrating exercise waiting for everything to happen. I had freight organised and paid for to the Port of Baltimore, as payment needs to be cleared before they will move the 5th wheeler to the shipping terminal. This proved unneccesary as the sailing date was over 2 weeks away. I have been told it is OK to ship while the import application is processed, again not necessary as I had plenty of time. I will continue to update as I find out further information.
I had planned to pick up the 5th wheeler myself from the Port Of Melbourne using the Spirit of Tasmania ship that is used for all private shipping, however Covid forced us to go with plan B. Luckily my brother works for Toll Tasmania and I used the Toll ship to bring the 5th wheeler from Melbourne to Tasmania. Because of Covid restrictions I had to ship the Iveco to Melbourne, I then had to use a 3rd party employee to pick up my Iveco, take it to the International RORO terminal, virtually next door to the Toll terminal, hook up the 5th wheeler and return it to the Toll terminal for the return voyage to Tasmania the next day. I was then able to pick up the 5th wheeler from Burnie for the short trip home to Penguin Tasmania.
Chris and Dianne's Ultima adventure 