Many of the requirements to ship heavy machinery to Europe are the same as with transporting a car or small truck. There are several registration and customs items to be covered no matter the size of the cargo. In every case, the equipment owner should be sure to have up-to-date registration and insurance information, with original documents available for inspection when a customs agent or shipping official asks to see them.

It is generally less expensive to transport motorized vehicles with roll on/roll off service, so this may also be practical when you need to ship heavy machinery to Europe. If the machinery can be driven onto the ship and secured on an inner deck, this could save a considerable amount of money over container or flat rack shipping, for example. These are questions that can be answered by shipping and transport agents who make all the arrangements for you, as well as by the shipping company itself.

Shipping companies and agents can help you arrange ocean freight, air freight as well as land transportation for your equipment. With new equipment it may be necessary to crate or cover certain items as well. Among the documents required to ship heavy machinery to Europe are dock/port receipts, bills of lading, original registration for each item, export declarations and customs forms.

It is always wise to have current, original insurance documentation available as well. This includes blanket coverage for marine shipping, for example. In most cases, the ship company is only liable for a minimum amount under its insurance. Shipping and transport service companies can also assist with preparation and filing of letters of credit and other financial documents. In addition, it may be necessary to arrange specific documents with the government of the destination country.

When you arrange to ship heavy machinery to Europe be prepared to provide the make/model of the equipment, dimensions and weight along with a current value for each item. To get some estimate of the cost for shipping you will also need to provide the names of the originating port and the destination port.

One of the most important factors when you ship heavy machinery to Europe is the experience of the transport service or freight-forwarding company. While there may be dozens of companies to choose from when you send smaller vehicles or personal cargo across the ocean, there are fewer firms with the knowledge and experience to handle the special needs of heavy equipment owners. It’s crucial to find a company that will protect the huge investment you have in your constructions or agriculture equipment. These experienced companies will also be able to answer your questions about conformity requirements in the various European nations.

Costs will vary depending on number of pieces of equipment, point of origin and final destination. Be sure to include all import duty charges and land transportation charges in your cost figures.

Shipping a vehicle to Europe, from the United States for example, is a detailed process that can be simplified by some careful planning. When the process involves heavy lift transport to Europe, there may be a few more details to take into consideration. Fortunately, the competitive international shipping industry has a number of excellent alternatives for getting that large piece of equipment or cargo from your site or the seller’s location to its intended destination. Start planning your shipping project several months ahead of time, do your research into shipping methods and costs, then move ahead confidently.

It may be best to start by making a short list of the different options: shipping from one continent to another; shipping by special container, roll on/roll off; special services to a specific location in Europe and so on. The key with successful heavy life transport to Europe is to find the service company that combines heavy-lift experience with careful planning of freight transport. This may be a bit different from basic roll on/roll off service available for a passenger car, small yacht etc. There will be a few extra details in the application process. Any heavy-lift specialty company should be able to provide sufficient customer feedback and testimonials about past projects.

Heavy lift transport to Europe should also be planned with the final destination in mind since the equipment and personnel experience can vary from one location to another. Europe should not present unusual difficulties since skilled lift crews have worked with such projects in military, government and private sectors. There will be some additional costs to consider as well. While sending a mid-size car from the United States to Europe might range from a few hundred dollars to about $2,000, heavy-lift projects will probably have extra cost, which is to be expected with this special category of transportation and placement.

As you plan for heavy lift transport to Europe it would be good to make necessary arrangements for special-needs cargo and cargo that may potentially dangerous. With the expansion of international companies and operations on several continents becoming more common, it’s possible to find freight-forwarding companies and ship operators that have experience with military equipment and weapons, mining and chemical transportation.

In addition to the sea-going options, it may be wise to consider shipping via one of the massive aircraft available. Of course, there may be some space limitations but the time element with heavy lift transport to Europe via aircraft is a key factor for timely delivery. With all of the logistics and special requirements of heavy-lift shipping, you may want to enlist the services of a company that has completed a number of successful voyages to European countries. Careful planning is the key in this particular type of cargo transportation.