Shipping Mombasa to Salalah

The start of a very long post about shipping from Mombasa using the shipping agent IVSSUK for the Mombassa end and a local agent in Oman called WWLS.

I’m likely to revise this a bit once published so check back again later. We’re still waiting for the arrival of the vehicles so don’t yet have final Oman pricing.

Revised 9th October. Oman shipping information.

Revised 15th October. Paperwork and Split BL warning.

Revised 3rd November to include additional information on insurance renewal.

**CAUTION BE PREPARED**
Firstly, I will start with some cautionary notes. If you have a gas bottle for LPG, it needs to be empty and purged.

Similarly, if you have lithium batteries, they must have the relevant paperwork as they fall under class 9 hazardous materials when shipped in a container.

To do this, you’ll need the manufacturer’s MSDS and the EN38.3 test certificates. These documents may not always be available for cheaper batteries, so start the process early. Without them, you won’t be able to ship the batteries at all. The batteries must be classified as class 9 hazardous. I’ve posted a link below in the paperwork section below with the information for my batteries.

Regarding gas bottles, I emptied mine and removed the valve from the top, then filled it with water to purge any remaining gas. The valve was left off, and the cylinder was placed in the rear of the vehicle for inspection. I spoke to the manufacturer about this, and apart from their advice to exercise extreme caution, this was the only way to purge the bottle independently.

Professionally, nitrogen or carbon dioxide is used, but those services or gases are not readily available in Kenya.

If you’re considering shipping with the gas bottle, or lithium, be aware that the fines are substantial. Any agent involved could potentially lose their license to ship. You will be fined. The fine is huge.

Many agents might be unaware of the rules regarding gas and lithium batteries. I can assure you, after thorough checking, that these regulations are valid. Despite numerous agents telling me it was fine to ship lithium, you can be absolutely certain it is not. The danger of LPG is self-evident; it’s highly explosive. Even a small leak can lead to a significant accident. Recent shipping incidents where boats sank were attributed to lithium and LPG gas.

If you have lithium batteries, your most significant challenge lies in obtaining the MSDS and EN38.3 test certificate. These are essential; without them, you might have to discard your batteries. It’s that serious.

Look for these documents now. One shipper had to abandon plans to ship in Mombasa as the supplier of the batteries could not supply the documents. So now you’re probably thinking that you’ll get away with it. Read the post below on marine insurance. Can you afford $100 million? They will come after you! No being in Canada (recent FB post) won’t protect you. These laws apply to pretty much anywhere and have for 300 or 400 years! You individually are responsible completely for your shipment and misdeclaration is a very serious issue.

**SHIPPING DATE**
Begin by contacting IVSSUK (6 weeks early is enough, 4 weeks is OK less is pushing your luck) and informing them that you intend to ship from Mombasa to Salalah. Decide on the approximate date, typically providing one month’s notice. Sailings occur on Thursdays (or Friday) once each week, so you have some flexibility in choosing which week you prefer. However, be prepared to be flexible as the sailing may be fully booked.

Don’t be vague about what you want. Shipping to Salalah is same price as Dubai and means you don’t have to backtrack. Shipping to Saudi is problematic. You want to go to Salalah.

Asking Martin at IVSSUK for 18 quotes as you don’t know where or when you want to go means he probably won’t respond as he’s busy dealing with those that know. If you are clear you want to go e.g. second week in December from Mombasa to Salalah in a 40ft HC as Class9 (as you have lithium) and you already got your buddy arranged, taken all your pictures of your documents (see below) then you will be on your way sharpish. Note the next section on loading as it will have impact on your sailing dates.

Of course, no lithium then a normal Non Haz container which is a bit cheaper. I’ve posted the base pricing at the bottom for other container sizes and Haz or Non Haz.

**LOADING DATE**
Once you have the sailing date, prepare for loading. This occurs the week before the sailing, so if the boat departs on a Thursday (or Friday), you’ll be loading on the preceding Thursday. It’s crucial to adhere to the loading cut-off times; you can’t delay it until Monday of the same sailing week. Loading on Thursday before that week ensures that your shipment clears customs on Friday. The container will then be taken to the port over the weekend or on Monday morning, allowing you to meet the cut-off (monday lunchtime). We’ve observed this process in Mombasa using various agents, and it’s the only viable approach, as customs procedures in Mombasa can sometimes be slow.

Load Thursday, Customs Thursday, Container moved to port, Weekend, Container on port by Monday, Boat Arrives, Container loaded, Boat Departs Thursday or Friday (usually).

Obviously if the boat schedule changes then all dates may shift by a day one way or another. I’m sure you can work this out.

**BOOKING FLIGHTS AND TRAVEL**
Once you have the sailing date confirmed, book a plane ticket to fly to Salalah on the Saturday after. This way, you’ll arrive on Sunday, just as the boat is expected on Tuesday afternoon. (depends on sailing date of course)

Don’t book your ticket until you know the sailing date. Always schedule your flight after the boat leaves to account for any potential customs issues. You’ll still be in the vicinity if you need to address any issues in Mombasa. Leaving before this could lead to complications, as you wouldn’t be present for the departure of your car and should a problem arise you need to be in the country.

So, you have your shipping date, your loading date, and your flights are booked. Great!

We arranged our flights through MyTrip, but I wouldn’t recommend using that company. They have seeming provided very poor customer service previously in the event of flight changes. I should have checked to reviews. Luckily we had no issue but seriously find someone else. The reviews are horrendous.

We flew from Mombasa to Dubai, with an 11-hour layover in Dubai before our onward flight to Salalah. We used Kenya Airways and Fly Dubai for our booking. With Kenya Airways, as the leading airline, we were allowed two checked bags per person and one item of hand luggage. The cost was approximately $400 per person. The flight was okay. Some people flew to Muscat and took the bus. The bus is the same as the wait in Dubai i think. Its and option to consider.

The official rule to enter Oman is a return ticket. Not even an option for onward but Timatic says either. I would disagree this is correct but in any case I emailed the Royal Omani Police on

Email:info-OmaneVisa@ROP.GOV.OM

and was told no ticket was required. We were asked in the airport (as always) but as we had obtained the Evisa it was no issue. Our companions were not asked anything.

Evisa:https://evisa.rop.gov.om/

To get from the accommodation in Diani Beach to the airport, you can hire a private taxi. I’ll provide the contact number below for the person you can book with. We paid 5,000 Kenyan shillings for this service. It can also be arranged through the accommodation. However, we found 5,000 to be the best price available. Other online services were significantly more expensive, and asking local taxi drivers often resulted in overcharging. This agency seemed reliable, and the contact was related to one of the staff members at the accommodation. They operate a sizable fleet of cars, and the vehicle was in good condition for four people, with sufficient boot space.

Taxi: Davi on +254 700 935 824 (WhatsApp, book 48 hours before, confirm price!)

I would recommend allowing 2 hours to get to the airport, even though it’s a Saturday. The ferry, which I’ll mention multiple times, can sometimes cause delays. The flight departs at 10:00 p.m. from Mombasa International Airport, so I would suggest leaving the accommodation in South Diani at 5:00 p.m. This provides you with a full day to prepare for the long journey.

You can check in for the entire journey using the Kenya Airways website (as soon as it opens online). I would recommend doing this so you can choose seats together for both legs of the journey. The flight from Kenya to Dubai was quite full, whereas the flight from Dubai to Oman was less crowded and more comfortable. There is no in-seat entertainment on the flight to Dubai, and on the flight to Oman, it is chargeable. However, the flight is so short that it might not be worth it. The Kenya Airways seat is narrow but the pitch was very good so my knees were not touching the seat in front and I’m 6 foot tall. It wasn’t horrendous as some economy flights are. We were provided with food on both legs of the journey, and the overall flight experience was satisfactory.

Upon arrival in Dubai, you’ll land in Terminal 1. I recommend staying in that terminal for as long as possible, as it is much nicer than Terminal 2, which is the departure terminal. If you’re interested in using a lounge, there’s one available in Terminal 1 for about 50 US dollars per person. However, the availability is limited to 3 or 4 hours depending on your booking. There’s also a McDonald’s in Terminal 1 arrivals. The transfer to Terminal 2 takes about 30 minutes, so allow plenty of time. Again, I stress, stay in Terminal 1 as long as possible. It’s vastly more pleasant. But don’t leave too late!

When traveling to Oman, you can bring alcohol. You’re allowed 2 liters of spirits per person, or 2 liters of wine, or 2 12-packs of beer. Regarding cigarettes, I do not have that information. We chose to bring 4 liters of spirits. It’s only available in hotels in Oman. We purchased our alcohol in Dubai.

Upon arrival in Salalah, you can easily find a taxi outside the airport to take you into town or to your hotel. There shouldn’t be any issues in the airport arrivals area. Standard security throughout the journey.

I’ve posted about Taxis below in another section. Simple to get to town. Salalah is surprising!

After collecting your bags, you’ll find three mobile operator shops. At the moment, I recommend getting a Vodafone SIM card as it works throughout the Middle East. However, note that the package is reduced for roaming. For instance, if you purchase 15gigabytes of data for Oman, you’ll have 10 gigabytes available for use in Saudi Arabia. The roaming availability details will be provided in the picture below. To purchase a SIM card all you need is your passport and you can purchase multiple SIM cards on one passport there is an app to use where you can manage both numbers. We found it better to opt for the 15 GB option for two people rather than the 35 GB option for one person as the price was the same with only a 5 GB difference all on Vodafone. The price for 15 GB for 1 month with a 2 GB bonus was 8 rials.

Note: WhatsApp calling does not work in Oman.

**ACCOMMODATION**
In Diani Beach, there’s a well-positioned campsite called “WOZA WOZA,” which offers both camping and a couple of rooms. This is ideal if you’re sharing your container with a buddy. The camping fee is 1,500 Kenyan shillings per night for the car, and the room costs 3,500 shillings. This rate appears to be negotiable, as our companions were able to secure it for 3,000 shillings. However, not every situation may result in a discount. The accommodation also includes a kitchen, which will be useful during the week-plus wait after loading your car on Thursday. You’ll be in Diani for nine nights in the room until the following Saturday. Camping before that is up to you. Unlike most places in the area this is fresh water showers. You want fresh water showers, really you do. Fans in rooms, nice breeze off the ocean.

WOZA WOZA (Ray/Rama, Manager) CAMPSITE WHATSAPP

+254 740 545 671

JENIFER JOHNSON (Joint Owner Operator) WOZA WOZA

+1 613 890 0004

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fEHx8xojM5ndtGsc9

The accommodation is very nearly beachfront, and you can walk to a local bar called “Chill Spot,” situated right on the beach. The accommodation itself also offers beer for sale. You can relax on the porch while gazing at the beach and the ocean. The accommodation has good Wi-Fi and a television if you want to watch TV with Netflix.

There are multiple restaurants in close proximity. At the end of the road, there’s a vegan place which serves delicious, large samosas for only 200 shillings, and Ethiopian coffee for two for the same price.

Tiki Bar is also good, Belgian owner. Make nice soup. Specials on Instagram each day. Closed Tuesdays

Additionally, there’s a Carrefour supermarket a few hundred meters away, and two other options for supermarkets in the opposite direction. Beers at the accommodation cost 350 shillings, while at Chill Spot, they’re 300 shillings. Expect to spend about 1,000 shillings for a meal at Chill Spot. I’ll also include some pictures of the food below.

In Oman, the accommodation is an apartment called “Homing.” We booked this via booking.com, and you pay when you are there. The reservation can be cancelled up to the day before arrival. I will post a few pictures below of the apartment. There is plenty of parking outside and a 24-hour supermarket just around the corner. It was 74 OMR for 4 nights. About 190 USD split between the two parties. So 80 USD for me.

Once you are in Oman in the apartment block There is a 24-hour supermarket just around the corner and if you want to go further afield you can use the taxi app as described. The apartment is good air conditioning works and so does the washing machine and cooker. One thing to note is it was very quiet on Sunday but during the week at 7:00 a.m. each morning you get what can only be described as the school assembly using speakers. You’ll find out what this is every morning.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/31qUyGdkB2Fa5pyL9

The apartment comes with an equipped kitchen, although some items are missing. However, there are enough essentials to get by. We had to request a few items, like an airer for drying clothes, as there is a washing machine but nowhere to hang them. The staff was quite accommodating and provided the item immediately. We also needed additional cutlery as there were only two plates, even though it’s a four-bed apartment with two rooms and two bathrooms. It’s probably wise to bring a few items for the kitchen maybe a couple of mugs, a dish sponge and some washing liquid, tea towel and other basic items if you are planning on staying in the apartment until the car arrives and not eating out every night. Ours was lacking stuff. They are helpful but if you can bring some stuff. Toilet roll is provided as are towels.  You can buy anything you need, quite literally, in the Supermarket.

I would book into Oman accommodation until the Thursday or Friday. You may get your vehicle Wednesday if you are lucky.

**TRANSPORT: FERRIES, TAXIS, MATATUS, AND TUK-TUKS**
If you are arriving in Mombasa from the Nairobi direction, you’ll arrive on Mombasa Island and will need to take the ferry to the Diani Beach area, which is approximately 30 km south of Mombasa Island. Driving through Mombasa isn’t for the nervous driver.

The ferry can be paid for online via a USSD code which is *721#. Follow the simple instructions, inputting your registration number, and pay the appropriate fee. To do this, you’ll need to have M-Pesa on your phone. If you have a mobile on Safaricom, you can get this registered when you buy the SIM card. Then, all you need to do is go to an M-Pesa agent and add some money. I’d advise putting on at least 5,000 shillings, as you’ll need this all over the place. While you can pay with cash anywhere, it’s convenient to use your phone with the till number and the amount to pay. You can also pay as a bill, which is how the ferry payment works. If you don’t have a phone for Kenya yet, you can ask one of the attendants on the ramp to pay it for you and give him the cash.

The cost for a 4×4 varies, but it’s about 250 Kenyan shillings for a 4×4, saloon car 120 and ~700 for a large vehicle. For trucks, I’m not certain, so larger vehicles should probably get the SIM card and then check using the USSD *721#.

The queue for the ferry can be quite long, and you may wait up to 2 hours at peak times, so it’s best to arrive during off-peak times. Sunday would be preferable.

Once you’re off the ferry heading south and have driven a short distance from the port, you’ll come across a sweeping left turn. Take note of this turn, as it’s important for when you return to the port. It’s crucial to remember that you won’t be using the same route to get back to the port as you did when exiting it. I’ll reiterate this below for clarity.* I’ve posted a little map below marking the junction.

Foot passengers on the ferry pay nothing and simply walk down through the market to the left of the ramp on the Mombasa side, and also on the left of the ramp on the mainland side. While there are basic security scanners, nobody ever looked into any of our bags when we were foot passengers.

*One thing to be aware of is that if you are leaving the mainland to Mombasa Island, going back to see the agent or on the day of loading, your sat nav might try to take you at a right turn. Do not turn there; continue straight and turn right later. If you take the first right turn, you’ll end up all the way down at the port, and they’ll turn you around, as this is not the correct entrance, even though that road has two directions. You don’t take the ferry that way; instead, continue past a sign saying no tuk-tuks and matatus (small sign on left at junction). In fact, they all go towards the left branch, which is effectively straight on. I’ll try to post and map below for this location where you do not turn right. This is what you should have taken note of when arriving as mentioned above.

A quick note on the taxes in Oman using the Otaxi app. Many of the taxi drivers don’t want to be paid by card as it seems they get paid out days after by the agency so even though you book on the app and they accept and you are going to pay with a card they want cash and won’t start the journey on the app. If you cancel this results in you getting charged about half a rial. On the app you can select to pay by cash. As the cash machine only gives you 50s obviously breaking these is quite difficult although the supermarket will do this but we went into a bank and changed 60 rials into 1 Rial notes.

If you go into Mombasa for any reason You will need to know the below details but the same pricing and Information applies to travelling from the campsite to Mombasa and from Mombasa to the campsite. Just switch the information the other way around. I will add details as appropriate for each direction.

The approximate price of a tuk-tuk from the campsite track to the junction at Ukunda is 100 shillings. Although they may try to charge you per person, this fee is per tuk-tuk. You might find it a bit challenging to convince them to take you for 100, so my advice is to pay 200 for the tuk-tuk if you’re going all the way from the junction to the campsite. Of course, the final decision is up to you.

Say that you want to get off at “tribe earth” which is the vegan restaurant opposite the track to the campsite as mentioned with regards to nice vegan samosas. Most TukTuk drivers will know where this is, if they don’t just say it is past the Carrefour supermarket to the right and near the vegan restaurant. Not many know where WOZA WOZA is.

In the opposite direction when leaving from the campsite you just say you are going to Ukunda junction, that’s if you want to go into Mombasa.

Once you arrive at the Ukunda junction if your going into Mombasa you can take a Matatu all the way to the port which will cost 100 shillings per person. They are all queued up on the left outside the total fuel station. All Matutus go to the port as far as I know but just say you are going to the ferry.
These matatus typically have around 13 seats. You’ll likely make this trip from the port back to the campsite at least once. We went into Mombasa and back to a couple of times. The same pricing applies to either direction.

If It is your first time coming back from Mombasa e.g. after you have loaded. You can walk along the left-hand side, passing all the market stalls, annoying tuk-tuks and other people and continue all the way up to a petrol station on the left where the Ukunda express goes from. There are likely several of them on the side of the road that may have already approached you, you won’t need to pay anything. Just get on, but make sure to confirm they are heading to Ukunda. Some minutes into the journey, which can take up to an hour, the driver will start collecting money from the rest of the passengers. They will all be handing over 100, so you should do the same. The driver may insist it’s 200, but it’s not; it’s 100. When you reach Ukunda, you’ll find a Naivas supermarket on the right-hand side of the road. Get off here; this is the junction to Diani. You would have driven past it on your way to the campsite on the first day, so you should recognize it. On the left-hand side of the road, there’s a line of tuk-tuks. These tuk-tuks can take you back to the campsite.

So in summary a tuk-tuk is about 100 per person anywhere and the matatu is 100 per person from the port to Ukunda.

One thing to note is the matatu or tuk-tuk does not cross the ferry so you get off at the port and go across as a foot passenger. Once on the other side you get on the corresponding transport to your destination on the island it is best to get a tuk-tuk around town on the Mombassa island side. Within town the standard rate apply of 50 or 100 with 100 getting you pretty much anywhere on the island. You will be doing this from the port back to the ferry or from the area you have loaded or if you have been to the agents office from the agents office back to the ferry.

So from somewhere on Mombasa you will take a tuk-tuk to the ferry (100pp),  go across on foot via the ferry (free), walk up the road to the fuel station get on the Matutu to Ukunda (100pp), Get off at Ukunda and take a tuk-tuk to the camp (100).

If you are on the island and you get offered 1.5 l of water or you approach a stall as it is usually very hot it is 50 shillings no more. They will try to charge more. Take some water with you on the day you are loading you can be there at least a few hours in the sun. Wear sunscreen. Take a hat. Go to the toilet. You know all this.

Within Oman you can download a application called Otaxi. Do this before you arrive so you’re not messing around in the airport. You can add your credit card to this so even if you don’t (cannot) get any money out of the single cash machine within the airport arrivals place you can still book the taxi to the apartment. Using Otaxi is just like using the Uber app once your credit card is added you can book the car and select the pickup point and the destination if you type homing in the search box they apartment will show up as it is on the Google maps and the search function uses Google maps to select the destination or pick up. If you do manage to get some cash from the cash machine in the airport you don’t have to use Otaxi (its fixed price if you don’t) just walk outside to the right. There is a price board It is 7 OMR to town fixed price and 3 OMR more if you want a minivan. We easily fitted in the Toyota saloon car for R7. This staff knew where the apartment block was although the taxi driver did not and the staff explained to him where it was. It is opposite the youth and culture sports place but you will probably be able to show him on Google if it becomes a problem. Homing is on Google.

Apartment GPS 17.01868, 054.10933

https://maps.app.goo.gl/31qUyGdkB2Fa5pyL9

You’ve been camping at the site for a few days and it is the loading day so you need to go into town. Is probably asked you to get there for 8:00 in the morning or 8:30 so you need to set off early early which means around 6:00 to make sure you get there in time remembering that the ferry can be a 2-hour wait. You can also set live location on your WhatsApp and send it to Moses the agent so he knows where you are. Don’t forget to pay your ferry ticket for the vehicle as described earlier using *721#. So you leave the campsite drive past the supermarket up to junction and turn right and go all the way towards the port. Don’t take that right turn I mentioned (see picture) cross the ferry and meet Moses at a designated point which could be the Rubis fuel station next to his office. If not you could actually meet him at the car park near where you are loading. I will put a GPS co-ordinate below. You could tell Moses you know where the big green Land Rover loaded and will meet him there in the car park at the end of the road.

Meet the agent here

GPS -4.06496, 039.65952

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KYuknhAGWnNBTgnf9

Loading will take a couple of hours but if you have any special requirements make sure you let them know before you arrive. We had some special requirements which is why I went into town early to see Moses to explain what they were. They will provide all the straps and wooden blocks and nails to secure your vehicle within the container. All very professional. You will need to provide of course original paperwork and Moses will come back with a customs agent to do the chassis number check and the engine number check with a Kenya revenue authority member of staff.

It took a good few hours waiting for the customs agent and also doing the loading. They have a long ramp. We are very very tall and the ramp is quite narrow. If you are a very large vehicle and wider than about 2.1 m you’ll need to explain this to Moses as the loading ramp is actually narrower than the container door. We managed it. We are wide and tall.

CONTAINER DIMENSIONS

**UNLOADING IN OMAN**

Once you’re in the apartment, contact the agent and let him know you have arrived. Send him a pin for your location. He will likely need you to go in on Monday or Tuesday to provide the carnet for the customs inspection. However, if you’re already present, this might not be necessary, though he may still request it. Our boat arrived on Tuesday evening, and we began unloading on Wednesday.

This process involved a taxi journey at around 3 pm to the port (16.94159° N, 53.99351° E) for the customs inspection, as shown in the first few pictures below. They depict the straps, including one that had come loose. The container is then transported from the port to a depot just down the road in the port-free area, where you can start unloading. The ramp is in good condition, though there’s a slight breakover angle at the bottom. The Citroen jumper van we shipped had no trouble with this; our Land Rover navigated it easily. The primary concern was the gap between the container and the dock, but this was addressed by using wood to make it level for us, as we are quite tall. I deflated the tires, and we exited with no issues. As the truck was approaching the dock, I observed my vehicle making contact with the side of the container due to a loose strap and the wooden chocks, which had slipped out from between the chassis and the axle. I should have secured them with tape.

I will provide pins below for the agent’s office so you can locate him, as well as for the port gate (16.94159° N, 53.99351° E) and the unloading area (16.94303° N, 53.97916° E) so you know where to go.

Agent’s Office (WWLS):

17.02191° N, 54.03577° E

While the agent will email you or send a WhatsApp copy of the insurance, be sure to obtain a physical copy when you visit the office.

If you wish to add any extensions to this insurance, such as the UAE extension, please inquire with him. We were unaware of it, so we don’t have it, but we’ll be visiting the office to understand how this can be arranged and how you can extend beyond the initial 30 days.

On Wednesday, we stopped by the WWLS office, picked up the hard copy of our insurance, and also received a hard copy of the invoice. Although the invoice is in dollars, they request payment in OMR. This poses a challenge as most money transfer systems don’t handle OMR. They suggested paying in cash to avoid bank transfer charges, which, as I explained, shouldn’t be an issue if we use something like Wise. Had I known earlier that they required cash in OMR, I would have gone to the bank to withdraw it, as we’re limited in how much we can withdraw each day on our credit card. It will take three days to retrieve our portion, which amounts to 341 OMR.

To be frank, I’m not entirely convinced that WWLS offers the most competitive rates. Another party shipping had a charge of under $800 for a 20-ft container with one inside. When considering the double paperwork and additional transport charges for a 40-ft container, I’m unsure where the additional nearly $1000 comes from. It might be worthwhile to consult another agent for a quote. I raised this with the agent, and he assured me that his price is standard and unbeatable, but I remain skeptical. EDITED BELOW.

I’ve now contacted a second agent in Oman and they have confirmed that the pricing is ok. I have a competitive quote from them and it is give or take exactly the same price which is what WWLS promised. It turns out that the whole reason for the additional cost, based on the 20-ft container, is the requirement for split bill of lading and separate owners and separate carnets for the two vehicles. Comparing both quotes side by side although they are not worded in exactly the same way I can see which items are double for two cars and which items are single for two cars and once you start doubling up the customs cost and the bill of lading cost the price suddenly rises. I have no reason to suggest that you try anybody else except WWLS unless the second agent gives me a better price based on people being a member of the overlanding association which they have indicated they might. I am currently talking to them about discounts

**PHOTOS AND PAPERWORK**
You’ll need to provide IVSSUK with a copy of your carnet. I advise sending a blank page. The dimensions of the vehicle, a copy of your passport and a copy of the vehicle registration. You should also send a photograph of the vehicle from back front and side. If you have lithium batteries you also need to provide the MSDS and the EN38.3 test. I would advise sending this information at the time of booking if not earlier. So IVSSUK can check everything.

You should also send a copy of the same to the agent in Oman. The agent in Oman actually needs a photograph of the vehicle from a diagonal front shot for the insurance showing your vehicle registration the front and side of the vehicle. The agent will procure your insurance before arrival as otherwise you cannot take the vehicle out of the port even if it isn’t inside the container.

It’s not been easy extending the insurance past the first month but we have managed to find a contact within the head office so you need to contact us to get this contact number so you can WhatsApp them to get the extension. If you do actually know that you are going to stay 2 months it is worthwhile buying 3 months as this is cheaper than the 2-month cost. The cost for 1 month is 17.100 and the cost for 3 months Is 29.000 and this even includes additional drivers.

• Passport
• Vehicle registration
• Blank Carnet page
• Vehicle dimensions
• Selection of photographs
• Documentation for lithium batteries

Do you want to see what the MSDS and EN38.3 look like for my batteries. Here they are. They are both able to be checked with the labs. They all have online validation systems to stop them being faked.

My Battery Certificates

Another cautionary note about the bill of lading for the shipment for Oman. Each vehicle with a different owner must be on a separate bill of lading. They cannot be on the same one! Make sure your agent knows this, your agent should already know this! Many of them are completely useless. It will cost you if it’s done wrong.

The boat will likely arrive on Tuesday evening so you’ll need to take your Carnet to the agent sometime on Tuesday. We opted to unload our car ourselves as we wanted to be there when the seal was cut and so we’ll be doing this I think on Wednesday. I’m giving you this information before we have actually collected our car so if anything changes I will revise it. I will post the agents location below.

If you want them to unload your car I think this is possible but I would advise against it. This is just my personal choice.

**PRICING**

The below pricing is headline price. Any discounts you achieve overall are up to you.

Camping WOZA WOZA 1500 Shillings per car per night.

Room in WOZA WOZA 3500 Shillings per room

Mombasa Shipping all inclusive Haz9 40HC $3350 USD

Mombasa Shipping all inclusive Non Haz9 40HC $2750 USD

2 Vehicles in container add $100 USD,  3 add another $100

Marine Insurance per vehicle (cover total is vehicle plus shipping cost) $25000 cover $210 USD, 50K / $325, +50k / 0.55% of Total

Mombasa Shipping all inclusive Non Haz 20ft $1960

Mombasa Shipping all inclusive Haz9 20ft $ POA

Apartment in Oman Double Room 4 people HOMING 74 OMR (4 nights)

Vehicle Road Insurance per vehicle Oman17.1 OMR or $45 USD (included in the total below)

Oman Agent Fees all Inclusive $1765.70 or 682 OMR

**MARINE INSURANCE**

Ask your agent about insurance for your vehicle and also personal possessions. Any good agent will be able to offer at least Marine Insurance.

IVSSUK offers both marine insurance and personal possessions insurance separately.

Please take time to read this post on General Average claims.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/OverlandSphere/permalink/2938009073083700/

To open the link you must be a member of the Overland Sphere group on FB.

**AGENTS DETAILS**

WORLDWIDE LOGISTICS AND SHIPPING LLC
P.O BOX:.2895, POSTAL CODE:211
SALALAH, SILTANATE OF OMAN
Tel: +968 23212206
Email: ashish.prajapati@wwls-oman.com
VAT-ID.: OM1100091935
WhatsApp Tel: +968 9301 5899

17.02191° N, 54.03577° E

INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE SHIPPING SERVICES UKMartin McGowan

Martin McGowan

UK : +44 203 787 4201
US : +1 917-781-4536
E : info@ivssuk.com