The first ever TIR transports have entered Qatar, carrying large generators for the country’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar’s General Authority of Customs successfully received the first two shipments under the TIR system at the Abu Samra border with Saudi Arabia. Total transit for the shipment from Dubai was 75% faster than the traditional maritime route used in recent years.
Supported by Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communication and IRU member the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the two trucks completed the trip from the United Arab Emirates to Qatar, via Saudi Arabia, in less than 24 hours.
Offering a significant cost and time saving alternative compared to the average four-day sea transit, the new TIR route will support Qatar’s logistical planning for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as provide a new time-saving option for exporters and logistics firms in both countries.
Qatar was the 73rd country to accede to the United Nations’ TIR Convention, the global standard for customs transit, to facilitate trade and the seamless and secure movement of goods across borders.
The first ever TIR transports have entered Qatar carrying large generators for the country’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Rami Karout, IRU’s Senior Adviser for the Middle East, with representatives from Qatar’s General Authority of Customs, welcome the first TIR shipment into Qatar.
That statement is either misleading or i have read it wrong. Were there not UK/European transport companies running to Doha in the 70s ?
I think there was even a documentary made about it.
Suedehead:
That statement is either misleading or i have read it wrong. Were there not UK/European transport companies running to Doha in the 70s ?
I think there was even a documentary made about it.
Good question to ask on the Oldies thread. More than one or two will have the correct answer.
But it is possible that some were going there before they joined any TIR agreement.
So long as one wasn`t transiting would it make much difference?
Arrive, papers in, clear…eventually…
I’ve done it (UK to Doha) but it was over 20 years ago. As Suedehead rightly says, Europeans have been sending lorries overland to Qatar since the '70s. Astran (think ‘Destination Doha’ - great film!) have been doing it for a good 50 years and once even had a depot in Doha. Some countries in the Middle East and elsewhere outside the EU do not belong to the TIR convention. However, you can still run on TIR carnets through non-compliant countries. You just have to make other arrangements and comply with local customs formalities. I’m sure folk who did a lot more TIR work than I did can fill in more details .
If you need me to move this thread to the Old Timers forum, just shout!
I remember making a trip to Doha in the 70s although I recall little of the detail other than a long wait at the point of entry into Qatar.
I also recall tryptiques,whatever they were.
If you read the story properly tir is or was like being a member of a club for mostly countries on the border of civilisation just inside Europe, and most of them are now part of Europe
Before anyone says any different tir was a pass to avoid inspection that was it’s main objective, it’s what there doing now, if you go from a Tesco distribution centre to a shop with a seal on it and your not allowed to open it unless there is someone from the company to verify it that’s tir
The wording does not justify the meaning but the principle does
Asia was never part of Europe so how would anyone think it was under tir, them boys who did it were adventurers it wasn’t about money or pride or bragging rights
They were exploring and knew that it was something that very very few people would ever experience
Not me or not your could imagine what them drivers experienced but there are a few stories here on this site that will enlighten anybody who are interested
Bigtruck3:
Asia was never part of Europe so how would anyone think it was under tir, them boys who did it were adventurers it wasn’t about money or pride or bragging rights
They were exploring and knew that it was something that very very few people would ever experience
Not me or not your could imagine what them drivers experienced but there are a few stories here on this site that will enlighten anybody who are interested
The late Mr albion ran for Dow, IIRC he drove for them and then with his brother got their own unit, driving to Iraq/Iran rather than UAE/Qatar/Doha area.
He certainly was an explorer and adventurer. Joined the Swedish merchant navy at 15, few years later jumped ship in Cuba to spend a few months there in the company of a young lady, to then get nicked and spend time in a Cuban prison during the bay of pigs.
Most people didn’t know about his interesting past, so no bragging or pride, he just liked doing something different. Even going through the Commie bloc would have been an experience.
Bigtruck3:
If you read the story properly tir is or was like being a member of a club for mostly countries on the border of civilisation just inside Europe, and most of them are now part of Europe
Before anyone says any different tir was a pass to avoid inspection that was it’s main objective, it’s what there doing now, if you go from a Tesco distribution centre to a shop with a seal on it and your not allowed to open it unless there is someone from the company to verify it that’s tir
The wording does not justify the meaning but the principle does
Asia was never part of Europe so how would anyone think it was under tir,
TIR is a form of customs bonding.
The implications of the need for it, or not having that in place for moving and transitting freight through numerous national borders, would by necessity have been well known to anyone doing that type of work.Knowing the territories where it was recognised would have been part of that.
Its framework, already covering well outside of Europe, was in place from 1959 and incteasing during the 1960’s.
Ironically the USA being the most difficult with the contradiction of being a signatory but not accepting foreign registered non DOT compliant and registered vehicles, for temporary entry, for commercial hire and reward carriage of goods between Europe and US via Canada for example.
albion:
Even going through the Commie bloc would have been an experience.
I regularly drove to the old Yugoslavia for motoring holidays in the 1980s .
I can remember the long queues at the borders, cheap fuel, street sellers and car washers descending when waiting at traffic lights and often abysmal driving standards of locals and moreso Turkish through traffic.
But often surprisingly prosperous areas and decent hotels and food.
Better than some parts of UK, Italy and France in that regard.
While now the street hawkers seem to have moved here to the Hanger Lane gyratory.
Bigtruck3:
If you read the story properly tir is or was like being a member of a club for mostly countries on the border of civilisation just inside Europe, and most of them are now part of Europe
Before anyone says any different tir was a pass to avoid inspection that was it’s main objective, it’s what there doing now, if you go from a Tesco distribution centre to a shop with a seal on it and your not allowed to open it unless there is someone from the company to verify it that’s tir
The wording does not justify the meaning but the principle does
Asia was never part of Europe so how would anyone think it was under tir,
TIR is a form of customs bonding.
The implications of the need for it, or not having that in place for moving and transitting freight through numerous national borders, would by necessity have been well known to anyone doing that type of work.Knowing the territories where it was recognised would have been part of that.
Its framework, already covering well outside of Europe, was in place from 1959 and incteasing during the 1960’s.
Ironically the USA being the most difficult with the contradiction of being a signatory but not accepting foreign registered non DOT compliant and registered vehicles, for temporary entry, for commercial hire and reward carriage of goods between Europe and US via Canada for example.
TIR procedures
Lorriers making use of the TIR procedure must first obtain an internationally harmonised customs document, referred to as a TIR carnet. TIR carnets are issued by national road transport associations. This customs document is valid internationally and as well as describing the goods, their shipper and their destination, represents a financial guarantee. When a lorry arrives at a border customs post it need not pay import duties and taxes on goods at that time. Instead the payments are suspended. If the vehicle transits the country without delivering any goods, no taxes are due. If it fails to leave the country with all the goods, then the taxes are billed to the importer and the financial guarantee backstops the importer’s obligation to pay the taxes. TIR transits are carried out in bond, i.e. the lorry must be sealed as well as bearing the carnet. The security payment system is administered by the International Road Transport Union (IRU).[10]
The TIR procedure is mostly used with Eastern European countries that are not in the EU (e.g. Russia and Ukraine), Turkey, and parts of the Near East. Since the formation of the European single market, the TIR procedure has become unnecessary for intra-EU goods transport.
As a result of Brexit, TIR carnets could become part of the solution to merchandise traffic between Great Britain and other European countries, or for goods to transit intra-EU, for example between Ireland and mainland Europe.
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