Shipping to Somaliland

[GeoSeven]

Forwarders are the folks who handle the logistics side of things. They don't necessarily operate ships. We'll ask her when she gets back Twist. Waiting to start a popping techno/trance thread with Evol when she returns from the North Pole

[Togdeer]

There is a company here in the UK, Tawakal I think......you can send 100kg barrels to any location in Somalia for about £85.
Takes about 5-6 weeks.

£85 that is a bit expensive, But I don't mind paying that as long its realible, and my stuff does not go missing.
Could you try to get me their details please.

[Twist]

LOL @ operate ships. I didn't know shipping literally meant operating a ship. Sheeko cusub ayaad inoo keentay, awoowe.

PS: Now that you've mentioned it, I think it's to do with logistics.

[theyuusuf143]

Yes tawakal is one of them http://www.tawakalcargo.com/?p=48 there are many other companies if you watch Somali tv commercial adverts tonight. For more info contact berbera port management www.berberaseaport.net/

[LobsterUnit]

We shipped some of tings thru some agency in london but their customer service was horrendous the first time.the second, kneegrows lost some items.#step up your game.

[Togdeer]

Is there not another way. Because I know Berbera Port is the busiest port in the horn of africa, so there are several ships going there everyday. I know a lot of items comes from China, India and Dubai. There must be some Chinese, Indian or Arab shipping compainies or agency to go to berbera.
To be honest I don't trust these somali companies.
1. The stuff go missing a lot, I heard a lot of people complaining
2. Its very slow, it can take upto 2 months
3. The customer service is poor, but then again somalis are really bad when it comes to customer service
4. Its quite expensive, £1 per kilo, so in some cases the shipping price is the same as buying a new item.

What about renting a container?

[theyuusuf143]

Somalis are 100% reliable when it comes trust. I advice you to first try somali service like tawakal cargo. time and cost does not matter if you are confident your item will be received, I never used cargo service but I beleive in Somalis and I beleive their service is always cheaper than others .

[original dervish]

I have personal experience of using Tawakal.....and they delivered the barrels as promised, intact and on time.
If you just want to send around 100-300kg from the UK to Somalia/Somaliland, then I'd suggest using the Somali companies.
However, if you want to send a large amount of goods purchased in Asia, then check out the Asian companies.
PS there are Asian based Somali businessmen whom regularly send ship loads of commodities back home, perhaps you can contact them to see if they'll take your cargo.

[Togdeer]

Thanks guys

[EvolSyawla]

hahaha Own a shipping company? Dear goodness, you need ALOT more resources for that, inshaAllah, someday.

You are right, we own a freight forwarding, cargo clearance and logistics company. Therefore, if you have goods coming to Berbera port - or any Somali port for that matter - just drop me a message with details and I would love to help you out.

Shipping lines to Berbera include MSC/Maersk, PIL, Perma - CMA-CGM are in talks to open office in Berbera, they are already in MOG - and smaller liners, but those are intended for cargo, not container liners.

[EvolSyawla]

Is there not another way. Because I know Berbera Port is the busiest port in the horn of africa, loll not by a long shot walaalo, Mogadishu has FAR more volume so there are several ships going there everyday 1-2 at most, the port is not large enough to accomodate more than 2 liners at once, and takes approx 24 hours min to unload all containers and cargo. I know a lot of items comes from China, India and Dubai. There must be some Chinese, Indian or Arab shipping compainies or agency to go to berbera.

To be honest I don't trust these somali companies.
1. The stuff go missing a lot, I heard a lot of people complaining - From who exactly? I have never seen cargo go missing lol Cargo sent in a container does not go missing. Unfortunately, any ship coming to/from Berbera/Mogadishu will not be granted any kind of insurance, however that is for their protection, more like a technicality in the rare event something happens. Piracy is extreeeeeemly unlikely, and again, if you send in a container, you will be fine. I cannot speak for loose cargo, we rarely handle that.

2. Its very slow, it can take upto 2 months - From port of loading, ocean freight, if there is a stop in Dubai/Mombasa, and then the final stretch to a Somali port...haa it can definitely take up to 2 months depending on Origin. However, you will not be able to find ANY direct UK/America/Canada/China etc liners that call directly to Berbera. It's just not possible yet lol, we don't have that kind of volume, but inshaAllah we will.

3. The customer service is poor, but then again Somalis are really bad when it comes to customer service - If you are referring to a forwarding company from UK for the barrels, I cannot attest to that, however there are some very good companies in Somalia/Somaliland- Mine especially of course , where we help track your shipment and give you status updates along the way and assist up to the place of delivery in Somaliland/Somalia.


4. Its quite expensive, £1 per kilo, so in some cases the shipping price is the same as buying a new item. - C'est la vie gacaliye. Unfortunately, reality is you cannot buy these items in Berbera, hence the reason why there is a markup when reselling, in order to recoup those costs. Now the price/kilo is if you are shipping in bulk. If you are shipping with a container, you are not quoted for kilos, and therefore should wait until you have a completely full container load - 20' or 40' before shipping. Why ship a partial container? You will be given one rate whether you are shipping a container of pillows or bricks.

What about renting a container? - You can definitely do this, and this is far cheaper than purchasing a container, both for shipping and for loading/offloading costs at site. It is called shipping with COC - Carrier's own Container. If you plan to ship often, purchase your own. If it's once or twice, just ship COC.

I hope that helped.