Shipping a yacht from Singapore to Fremantle?

[gatormate]

I have a small yacht in Jahore Bahru, which I want to freight to Fremantle Western Australia.
The boat is 10m with a 3.3m beam and the mast could lay on top @11.5m
It has a retractable keel with a draft of 1.2 . Overall height would be near 3.5m.
Has anyone had a recent experience with shipping on this route, or any advice?

Thanks

[Alan Mighty]

I would not have called a 10 metre boat a "small yacht", but that's just me.

1. If the boat is in Johor Baru, Malaysia, I guess you have the choice of shipping from the Port of Tanjung Pelapas, in Malaysia, or moving the boat to Singapore. Shipping schedules will tell you which route (PTP - Fremantle or Sin - Freemantle) is best.


2a. Before that you might need to consider whether break bulk carriers are common on either route.


2b. The alternative is probably to top load on a 40' flat rack. A 40' flat rack is 12 m long, about 2.4 m wide, and about 2.6 m high. Of course if it is top loaded, the height is not a limitation. Your hull width of 3.3 m is a limitation, but it depends where that broadest beam is - and if you are top loading, you can make sure that the flat rack is on a side edge of the stack.


3. Flat racks usually need to be ordered in advance. Not every port has a few 40' flat racks sitting around waiting for a load.


4. If you go the flat rack route, once you have a flat rack you will of course have to bring the flat rack to your boat yard to load and pack. And before that you need to check the road from your boat yard (bridge heights, width limits) to the port.


So in order, you probably need to look at:


1 (Sin or PTP) at the same time as 2 (2a break bulk carrier or 2b flat rack)


If you choose 2b, then you need to think about 3.


And before you commit to either Sin or PTP, you have to have 4. a viable road route to the port.


A good freight agent will sort out most of those questions.


What's stopping you sailing to Darwin and then coasting to Fremantle?

[Alan Mighty]

I neglected to discuss a cradle that supports your hull.

If you are using a break bulk carrier, a cradle may be all that you need. If you're using a container ship and a flat rack, you need a cradle that supports your hull and also that fits into the dimensions of a flat rack. So you'll need to research the internal dimensions of a flat rack and make sure that whether you buy or make a cradle, it fits those dimensions.


You could build one from steel or timber, tailoring it to support your hull at its bulkheads and also build in struts that hold your mast. If you use timber, you may need to pay attention to Australian quarantine requirements.


The cradle needs to be robust, of course. If you use a break bulk carrier, consider that a lot of force may be on that cradle. If you use a container ship and a flat rack, the flat rack takes some of the forces involved (a 40' flat rack is usually rated to carry 45 tonnes).


You may be lucky enough to find a suitable cradle for sale. It's not unknown. And you might also be very lucky to find a buyer for your cradle in Aus.

[pbmaise]

Make sure there is no termites, past evidence of termites, and no problem with bottom paint. It would be awful to ship it only to have it rejected. I think it would be far cheaper to sail it then ship it.

[ErikFinn]

Why don't you have it delivered? If interested I know one reliable guy who does deliveries here. His latest job is a 36 foot catamaran from Malaysia to Taiwan.

[nauticalnomad]

will it fit in a container..

[StuM]

Originally Posted by nauticalnomad

will it fit in a container..

> "The boat is 10m with a 3.3m beam"
A standard container door is 2.33m wide.

> "Overall height would be near 3.5m."
A standard container door is 2.28m high.

[Djarraluda]

I was checking a short while ago and got a lot of help from DAZMAC
Dazmac Sales. <sales@dazmac.com>
I was talking with Darryl or Otis there.
There are skids (mafi) available to roll onto a RoRo, so it is virtually any port to any port.
Roger

[grahamb]

does seem a shame to not sail back to Australia......providing the yacht is up to it.......a lot of motoring.....but just fantastic cruising through a wonderland.....myriads of islands......been there .......soooo good.....but keep it a secret......