I have in the past asked for help regarding trips to compete in Ploughing Championships in Czech Republic and Sweden and many of you have been kind enough to offer advice and contact info which helped me greatly. Well, I have gone and dropped myself in it again by winning the British Championships again and now have the honour of representing England in the World Ploughing Contest in Croatia in September 2012.
As much as I would love to drive my old ERF across there, work commitments mean that this time it wont be possible . So I am thinking my best option is to send the equipment on an unaccompanied trailer and fly out there to meet it for unloading? The load will be 2 tractors (not large ones) and 3 ploughs. The whole of the equipment has comfortably been fitted together on a 40 foot flatbed in the past.
Collection would likely be Craven Arms in Shropshire or Barnsley in Yorkshire and destination will be Biograd Na Moru in Croatia. Shipping would need to be for arrival in Croatia around 3rd/4th September with return loading on 16th September. We have been advised that we can avoid a lot of expense by shipping our equipment as exhibition equipment - (which is a legitimate description and could be backed by a letter from the organisers) rather than getting involved with carnets? We are funding this out of our own pockets so are desperate to save on expenditure where possible.
So, any suggestions for the best way to get the kit out there, suitable companies that could handle the job, contacts, advice on customs etc would be greatly appreciated,
Hi
Although its been over 14 years since I last drove commercially to Croatia I still go to Kosovo twice a year taking humanitarian aid and have travelled through Croatia past the outskirts of Biograd Na Moru. You are looking at 4-5 days driving from your loading point in the UK to your destination. As for the best documents for your load I couldn’t say as when we take aid it is obviously left in Kosovo and we just use Manifests, but with you wanting to return with your tractors I think the only way might be on a carnet. If you PM any of the lads on here that do the tours or exhibitions they may ne able to help.
As for companies that travel out there, we as a charity have in the past used an outside transport company to take extra loads out when we have to much for our own trucks infact we have one loading next week for Kosovo. The company we use are John Shirley Ltd johnshirleyltd.co.uk/index.html they have plenty of experience in the Balkans. As for a price I make a rough guess that you would be looking at around 3000 euros each way going off what we have paid in the past to Kosovo. As for sending it on an unacompanied trailer I think you will find that difficult as there are as far as I know, no direct sailings to Croatia from the UK, so it will have to go overland on an accompanied truck.
Im off to Kosovo in October with aid that will take us 3 weeks round trip otherwise I would have offered to drive your ERF with the tractors out there for you.
Thank you for the reply - I will email them in the morning. Must admit, this chance at the the World contest is turning into something of a poisoned chalice unfortunately - will be struggling to afford it at those sorts of prices
Hello ploughman1963 , what about sponsorship perhaps you have this all ready ,but if not hear Goes, ask the British Farmers association/union and the Manufactures of your tractor and Plough plus ask any local firms if they are Intrested as well ,also the local paper and the Farmers Mags , ask the British lottery ,and what about the people who run this site just for an example, As it would be a great publicity for all concerned ,to be recognised as helpers for the British Ploughing team, while we are at it give Richard Branson a letter as well, nothing ventured nothing gained, Another Idea Raffle a place for some one to accompany the team TO Croatia to watch you at the final , Hope you can use any of the ideas , all the best and do keep us all up to date how its all going ,please ,
Thank you for your thoughts - yes we do try to attract sponsors - I managed to get a very good one last year - ‘Showtime Security’ (they do the security for the Royal Welsh Show and the Dorset Steam Fair) - who very kindly put a £1000 worth of derv in the ERF. Trouble is, as you become more successful, the more people want you to travel further afield to compete at their local match - a problem with time offwork as well - but thats not a complaint, I enjoy going round promoting the Society especially as we are hosting the World Championships ourselves in 2016!
Our efforts are directed towards attracting sponors for that event rather than our personal expenses at the moment. The World Championships in England in 2016 will be held at York and see over 60 competitors travelling from all over the World. The event will be a massive country fair/festival with 2 days of the British National Ploughing Championships followed by 2 days of the World Championships.
Some good ideas there though Pete, I will follow that up
ploughman1963:
We have been advised that we can avoid a lot of expense by shipping our equipment as exhibition equipment - (which is a legitimate description and could be backed by a letter from the organisers) rather than getting involved with carnets? We are funding this out of our own pockets so are desperate to save on expenditure where possible.
You’d need to run an ATA carnet if shipping as exhibition equipment, providing that all that is shipped out is being returned.
I think Pete has something, if the local tractor dealer can send one of his own trucks over as a sponsorship package, even with a volunteer driver from these forums
Perhaps I can chip-in re:ATA Carnet. Depending on the value of what you send it will cost around £4 - 700. The last couple I’ve done for customers have come out around £700, but they were shipping around £200k’s of equipment, so the price is based on generating the carnet (through the local Chamber of Commerce) and guaranteeing the possible duty, if that makes sense.
If you need any more info I’d be more than happy to help.
Speak to andy parks or colin lumsdon or Richard longs they move that kind of gear about . Sorry no longer have there numbers . Lumsdons are on south coast of kent and longs are based in norfolk
Bob May:
Speak to andy parks or colin lumsdon or Richard longs they move that kind of gear about . Sorry no longer have there numbers . Lumsdons are on south coast of kent and longs are based in norfolk
Just don’t mention Andy Parks and Richard Long in the same thread Bob.
Don’t mention the war. I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.
. So I am thinking my best option is to send the equipment on an unaccompanied trailer and fly out there to meet it for unloading? The load will be 2 tractors (not large ones) and 3 ploughs. The whole of the equipment has comfortably been fitted together on a 40 foot flatbed in the past.
