In other news…

Typically, when everything runs a bit too smoothly, something has to give…

So yesterday, I called the shipping company to make one last enquiry about the voyage. I asked what day the car will be expected into Savannah in Georgia and was advised that it would be going to Brunswick in Georgia, not Savannah. 

Brunswick is actually an hour closer, so this normally would not be a problem only that I had contacted every link in the chain and organised an escort for the Port of Savannah! Not a problem… It can't be helped and I have had plenty of time to make new relationships with customs, the port and an escort in Brunswick. Just as well I learned this all now and still have plenty of Skype credit.

I called Officer Gavin at Savannah for some advice and she advised me that the customs office in Brunswick is just as clued up and are very nice. She said to namedrop her if necessary. Ironically, this is the only link in the chain at Brunswick that I have not had any luck getting through to at this stage!

I have contacted the port authorities and the shipping company office there and also managed to get through to the company that supply the port-escort service onto and off of the port. (This is $50 at Brunswick, which is cheaper :-)

On the plus side, the shipping is booked and the only thing I will need now is the formal bill of lading, which becomes available once I have dropped the car off at Southampton. Once I have this document, I can complete the ISF form to notify customs of the inbound cargo.

Paperwork so far:

V5C

To present on both sides and at Customs

Draft Bill of Lading

To be replaced by formal bill of lading once the car has been delivered to Southampton

Shipping Note

To present along with the car at Southampton

CBP-7501

To be completed with a Customs Officer BEFORE collection of the vehicle

DoT & EPA forms

To be completed by a Customs Officer AFTER retrieval of the vehicle AND in their presence

ISF form

Simple data collection document drafted by me to supply to Customs Security Filing by email 48hrs BEFORE departure of the vessel

To finish up this little post, here is some footage stopped at some lights near the seafront in Hove :)

Stay tuned… Pretty soon, these will be videos driving in the States!