Exporting and Re-importing +100 Tonnes of Rejected BMSB Machinery: Austria > Australia > Japan > Australia

Challenge

Assisting Wittmann Battenfeld, a leading global manufacturer of injection molding machines, re-export and re-import four large pieces of machinery from Austria after it was rejected by Australian biosecurity authorities.

Strict Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season (BMSB) measures were in place at the time of import. Any goods (even new and unused cargo) that had been manufactured before 1 December 2021 needed to be fumigated for stink bugs before being imported into Australia.

Unfortunately, this cargo had not been fumigated in Austria prior to departure. Australian customs therefore rejected its entry into Australia, and the cargo had to be exported from Port Kembla.

This was a time-critical situation where the client needed their goods re-exported, fumigated and then re-imported back into Australia as soon as possible. Our experts had to move quickly.

Solution

Through our extensive partner network, ICE found a neighbouring country where the goods could be safely unloaded and treated.

Japan does not have the same biosecurity measures as Australia, so we planned for the machinery to arrive in Kobe, the third-largest port city in Japan. ICE had to overcome several obstacles in the process:

• Finding an Australian-approved fumigation provider

There were only three approved fumigators in Kobe, so we quickly reached out to them and made sure they had the expertise, appropriate facilities, and capability to handle four high-value, large break bulk consignments.

• Liaising with Japanese Customs

As this was a temporary shipment stopping in Japan, the cargo would be bonded by Japanese customs authorities. We had to ensure all procedures and documentation were in place prior to cargo arrival in the country, so it could be fumigated and temporarily stored after treatment as underbond cargo.

• Transferring the machine to another port in Japan

We scheduled the cargo to arrive and be treated in Kobe. Ideally, it would be re-exported back to Australia from there too. However, the only break bulk carrier service available at the time was only departing from Osaka, about 30 kilometres away. We then prepared for the machinery to be transferred from Kobe to Osaka so that it could be re-exported to Port Kembla.

ICE liaised with the carrier to arrange cargo unstuffing and transport to Osaka by barge, as well as a floating crane to unload from the barge. An important detail taken into consideration when hiring the equipment was the size/weight: the barge needed to be big enough to withstand nearly 60 tonnes of equipment, some over 8 meters long!

A suitable berth terminal in Osaka had also to be carefully selected, as not every berth terminal was able to bear the weight.

• Switching carriers entirely

In deciding to ship from Kobe to Osaka, we also had to change carriers entirely, swapping from Wallenius Wilhelmsen to K-Line. We had to quickly make sure a break bulk vessel with space was available. It took longer than ideal for the carrier to confirm that space was available, but we eventually secured the space.

• Switching equipment

ICE also had to coordinate transferring the machinery from Wallenius’s mafi trailers to K Line’s, and manage storage charges incurred while using the equipment from the previous carrier.

• Handling all documentation and insurance

While this was all happening, we had to arrange changes in the bill of lading, review what charges were being submitted to who, and review liability insurance between ourselves, our representatives in Japan, and the client, to ensure all parties were covered.

• Ensuring the consignments were correctly opened and repacked during treatment

We liaised with our client and fumigation provider to give specific instructions on how to unpack the consignments for gas treatment. A window in one of the wooden crates and a cut in the oversheet had to be made in the right spot. Extra plywood had to be purchased to close the window, since they could not use the original material to close the hole.

The machine parts were shrink wrapped after treatment to ensure indoor storage after opening. This was because any water entrance could cause major damage.

Instructions on how to lift and lash each one of the consignments were also carefully outlined.

Results

After weeks of pressured coordination between our client, agent, carriers, treatment provider and port terminals, the machinery was successfully loaded onto the Polaris Highway, departing from Kobe to Port Kembla.

Once onshore, it was successfully cleared in Australia, meeting our client’s deadline.

This was a very complex export and re-import shipment involving extensive communication between several parties, fast and clear responses, and high attention to detail. Luckily, this is our expertise.