Will I need a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), Pre-Shipment Inspection and Other Documents to Ship to Africa?

Due to import controls and regulations in place in several African countries, international shipping customers are oftentimes confused about what documentation and procedures are necessary in order to properly ship their goods to Africa.  Today we are here to debunk some of the international shipping questions for customers interested in shipping cars, construction equipment, machinery and other commercial goods to Africa.

Cargo Tracking Notes (CTN) for International Shipping to Africa.  Will I Need a Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) or Other Special Document to Ship to Africa?

Several countries in Africa require customers shipping goods to their country to obtain a cargo tracking note (CTN).  The purpose of the cargo tracking note is very simple, countries utilize the information from the document to track what type of goods are coming into the country.  The CTN provides a simple way for several African countries to maintain statistical data on their imports.  The normal information contained on the CTN is: shipper information, consignee information, cargo details including weight and dimensions, value of shipment, and how the cargo is shipped.

The countries that sometimes require cargo tracking notes (CTN) for international shipping to Africa are:

• Angola
• Benin
• Togo
• Senegal
• Nigeria 
• Niger
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Republic of Congo
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mali
• Madagascar
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Gabon

You should always check with your import agent if your country requires Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) for international car, container and construction equipment shipping to Africa.


Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) Requirements for International Shipping to Africa.

In addition to CTN's, some countries also require the customer to conduct a pre-shipment inspection prior to shipping your cargo to Africa.  The pre-shipment inspection is conducted by certified companies given authorization from the government of the importing African country to perform the inspections.  Most pre-shipment inspections (PSI) are conducted by Bureau Veritas, Cotecna, Societe Generale Surveillance (SGS) or Intertek Testing Service. 

In order to start the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) process the importer must first provide the commercial invoice, full packing list and shipment information to the PSI office in the importing country.  Upon receipt of the necessary shipping information, the PSI company will provide a unique identifying number for your shipment.  Using this unique identifying number, the international shipping agent in the USA coordinates with the PSI office in the US to conduct the inspection.  When shipping cars and construction equipment to Africa, the PSI agent will conduct the inspection at the port of exit in the United States.  When shipping cars, machinery and other cargo to Africa in a container, the agent will conduct the inspection only after the cargo has already been loaded inside the container.  Pre-Shipping Inspections require precise coordination between your international shipping company, the port, container warehouse and the inspecting agent to ensure the inspection is done in a timely manner and before the cargo loads the vessels to Africa. The following countries require pre-shipping inspections:

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Ethiopia
  
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Liberia
• Madagascar
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Rwanda
  
• Kenya
• Mauritania
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Uganda
• Tanzania

 
What Happens if I do not have a Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) and/or the Cargo Tracking Note Completed?

If your country requires a cargo tracking note (CTN) or pre-shipment inspection (PSI) you are strongly advised to make sure it is done.  Penalties for missing CTN's or PSI's include: monetary fines, seizure of cargo, refusal of cargo at the importing country and the return of your goods to the USA.  Steamship lines are also cracking down on missing cargo tracking notes and pre-shipping inspections.  If you fail to provide a the unique cargo tracking number issued by the proper authority, the steamship line will refuse to load your cargo and/or provide you with an original bill of lading.

Understanding what documentation and procedures are needed prior to shipping cargo to Africa is important.  Contact K International Transport today to receive the best international car, construction equipment, heavy machinery and container shipping costs and services to Africa.

 


Always keep in mind that although an international shipping company will assist you in filling out the cargo tracking note and coordinating the pre-shipment inspection, it is your responsibility as the owner of the cargo to make sure you confirm all necessary documentation and procedures needed for import into your country.  With other 25 years of international shipping experience to Africa, K International is able to assist our customers in obtaining cargo tracking notes (CTN) and pre-shipping inspections (PSI) for international shipping to Africa.  For more information or to receive construction equipment, heavy machinery, container and car shipping quotes to Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, or Kenya from the US, contact us at inquiries@kinternational.com, 212-267-6400 or on Skype at kinternationalny.  We are one of the best and most affordable international shipping companies shipping to West, East and South Africa from the United States.

Helpful Guide: Shipping to Dakar, Senegal

K International Transport offers a wide variety of international shipping services to Senegal. If you need advice on shipping to Dakar, K International can help. Whether you are shipping cars, trucks, buses, or construction equipment, K International can give you the best international shipping prices and service from the United States to Senegal.

The most affordable international car shipping and heavy equipment shipping service to Dakar, Senegal from the USA would be either Roll On / Roll Off Service, or Container shipping, depending on the nature and size of the cargo. Generally, if a larger unit can fit inside a container, it is the most cost effective method of shipping. If you are only shipping a single car, though, it is likely Roll On / Roll Off shipping is more effective.

We are also capable of handling all U.S. Export Customs clearance for cars, trucks, or heavy equipment that you plan to ship to Senegal from the United States. As one of the leading international shipping companies shipping to Senegal from the US, K International has over two decades of experience shipping to West Africa.

International boat and boat on trailer shipping to Senegal is also possible. Not all overseas car shipping services to Senegal are equal, and K International has the experience required to best advise you on your options. Roll-on / roll-off shipping vessels are specially designed to accommodate cargo on wheels or tracked cargo. Heavy equipment and construction equipment shipping to Senegal via ro/ro shipping service is often the best choice for many unites, though construction equipment and machinery dismantling and containerization international service to Senegal is also an option.

For more information, send us an email at inquiries@kinternational.com.  For more information or questions on the services we offer as one of the best overseas shipping companies with service to Senegal, give us a call at 212-267-6400 or on Skype at kinternationalny.  We have years of experience shipping to Senegal and can provide you with some of the best international shipping rates from most major ports in the US to Senegal.

Tips for Shipping Agricultural Machinery and Construction Equipment to Mombasa, Kenya and West Africa

Shipping to Kenya? As a fast growing country on the West coast of Africa, Kenya has a strong demand for construction and agricultural equipment. Many backhoes, motor graders, and harvesters are shipped every day to port Mombasa, Kenya from the United States.


Mombasa is the main port in Kenya. As a licensed freight forwarder, K International Transport always gives economical international shipping quotes to Mombasa, Kenya. We specialize in shipping construction equipment and agricultural machinery to Mombasa, Kenya.


Shipping to Kenya and West Africa can be done by container shipping services, roll-on / roll-off shipping service, and break-bulk equipment shipping service. K International is an experienced and trusted international shipping company in the United States, and we offer the best overseas shipping services to Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries in West Africa. 

CAT 416B Backhoe, ready for shipment to Kenya

One of the most cost effective ways to ship construction equipment to Kenya is to dismantle the backhoe, motor grader, or excavator and load them into a container for shipment from the United States to Mombasa, Kenya. Another option for particularly large machinery is international shipping via roll-on / roll-off vessel to Kenya or Tema, Ghana. For stationary construction and agricultural equipment, breakbulk cargo shipping service to Kenya would be your best bet.

CAT 120G Motor Grader, ready to ship to Lagos, Nigeria

If you need an international shipping price quote for shipping excavators, tractors, motor graders, bulldozers, trucks, trailers, harvesters, backhoes, buses or transportation equipment to Mombasa, Kenya from the United States, please contact us! Fill out our rate request form or contact us directly to get your international shipping prices to ship farming machinery, trucks and other construction equipment to Kenya. We can be reached by phone at 212-267-6400, email at inquiries@kinternational.com or on skype at kinternationalny.

Shipping a Ford F-150 to Dammam, Saudi Arabia - No Problem!

If you purchased a Ford F-150 in the United States and want to ship it to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, K international Transport can give you a price to ship a Ford F-150 to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, or other ports in the Middle East. We can also give you the cost to ship a Chevy Silverado to West Africa - no problem!

This 2011 Ford F-150 will suit your needs wherever you go! Let us bring it to you!

Shipping your truck to Dammam or Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is easy with K International Transport. Just tell us what you are shipping, where it is, and where it needs to go. Head on over to our rate request page and get started on getting an international car shipping quote!

This Cheverolet Silverado is a 4x4 we can bring to your door!

Contact as by phone at (212) 267-6400 or by email at inquiries@kinternational.com and we will get right on replying to your international car shipping quote request. 

Shipping Cars, Trucks, and Buses to West Africa

We have noticed an uptick in the amount of customers looking to ship cars, trucks, and buses to West Africa over the last two years. While the amount of construction equipment being shipped to countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal has been increasing, so has shipment of domestic and commercial vehicles. Examples include used Mack trucks and International school buses.

Whether intended for charity activities, commercial purposes, or personal use, K International Transport is pleased to meet the needs of customers that need to ship their cars and trucks to West Africa. Often a customer finds a used truck through an auction or even through eBay, and before purchasing it they need to know the price for shipping to Ghana, or other destinations in the region. You can submit specifications of the vehicle to our rate request page and one of our staff will personally lead you from the quoting process to ultimately seeing your item at your port of destination. You will never be handed between departments, and the K International team member that sends you your rate quotation will be available from the start of your shipment to the finish.

We are able to ship out of any U.S. port, and common ones at this time include: New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Norfolk, and Jacksonville. Just tell us where your unit is and we will aid you in selecting the best port of export for you for shipping your car overseas.

We can also give advise on how to most economically ship multiple vehicles. We are able to make multiple smaller cars and vans into 40' containers, which will drastically cut the price of shipping to Dakar, Tema, or other destinations in West Africa. Vehicles too large to fit into containers would be shipped Roll On / Roll off, where price depends on cubic meters.

If you need a price for shipping cars or trucks to West Africa, or just would like information to help you start your search for the right international shipping company, K International has over 20 years of experience to call upon in order to make your shipment move smoothly.

You can email us at inquiries@kinternational.com, call us at 212-267-6400 or skype us at kinternationalny.

Shipping Construction Equipment to Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Other West African Countries

In order to meet the demands of our customers in West Africa, K International is now able to offer discounted ro/ro rates for construction equipment shipping to several ports in West Africa!  Recently we have seen an increase in international  heavy equipment shipping of Komatsu and Caterpillar wheel loaders, bull dozers, skid steers, dump trucks, excavators and mining equipment to Lagos, Nigeria; Tema, Ghana and Douala, Cameroon from the United States.

Our direct service to West Africa ships out of the ports of New York, Baltimore, Savannah and Jacksonville to several popular destinations. Transit time via roll-on / roll-off shipping service from the USA to popular destinations in West Africa such as Dakar, Senegal; Tema, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Douala, Cameroon; Boma, Democratic Republic of Congo and Luanda, Angola for construction equipment and automobiles is 10-30 days depending on your destination.  We also want to take this time to remind our customers direct international shipping services to West Africa from the USA is on a first-come, first-served basis and a sailing date is not guaranteed.  However the earlier  you deliver your construction equipment unit the faster we can get your cargo on the vessel you desire.  Customers shipping to Boma are reminded pre-shipping inspections and cargo tracking notes may be required as per local DR Congo import regulations.  K International is able to assist you in scheduling and coordinating a pre-shipment inspection and also securing the necessary cargo tracking note so you will not have any delays in retrieving your cargo when it arrives at its destination.

If interested in international shipping quotes for high heavy construction equipment to Lagos, Tema, Douala, Boma and all other West African destinations please visit our heavy equipment shipping rate request page.  We will respond to all rate requests within 1-2 business days!  We also have more information on shipping cars, construction equipment and containers from the USA to Tema, Ghana and Tin Can Island / Lagos, Nigeria on our ports of call pages.