Sea freight is the main way machinery leaves Canada. There are two options: container, and ro-ro, where the vehicle is driven onto a specialised ship. We default to containers, and below is why, how long it takes and what happens at each stage.

Container versus ro-ro

Inside a container the vehicle is shielded from the elements, strapped down to proper securing rules and physically out of reach. Ro-ro is cheaper, but the car stands on an open deck for the whole voyage, is moved by port staff, and the risk of minor damage — chips, scratches, missing removable parts — is noticeably higher. For premium cars, and especially for powersports, this is decisive: a snowmobile or personal watercraft cannot go ro-ro at all, only in a container.

How much fits in a container

A 20-foot container holds one passenger car. A 40-foot holds two cars when properly loaded, or up to four snowmobiles or ATVs on a dedicated rack. If you are buying a single powersports unit, a dedicated container makes no economic sense — those go as consolidated freight alongside other machines, with the cost split between shippers.

Which ports we ship from

Our warehouses are in Toronto and Montréal, so most shipments leave through the port of Montréal, and for some destinations through Halifax. That is the east coast — the shortest route to Europe, the Black Sea and the Baltic. For Asian destinations the west coast, Vancouver, makes more sense; that is a different route with its own timings.

Preparing for loading

Before loading the vehicle is washed, removable parts are taken off or secured, and the battery is disconnected. The fuel tank must be close to empty — that is a shipping requirement, not a preference: fuel is classed as dangerous goods. The vehicle is photographed as it goes into the container, and you receive those photos with the shipping confirmation, so its condition at loading is on record.

Timings

The sea leg usually takes three to six weeks, depending on the destination port, whether transhipment is involved, and the season. Add preparation and export paperwork in Canada, plus customs clearance on arrival. Door to door most often lands within five to seven weeks. We give exact timings per destination, because the difference between, say, Klaipeda and Aktau is substantial.

Documents and insurance

The core shipping document is the Bill of Lading — the cargo is released against it at the destination port. Alongside it go the export invoice, the vehicle documents and a packing list. Every shipment is insured; the vessel is tracked and we tell you the key milestones rather than leaving you guessing.

At the destination port

On arrival we handle customs clearance and unloading: you do not have to find a broker, deal with a temporary storage warehouse or work out how declarations are filed. Charges differ by country, and we calculate them in advance — before the machine is bought.

Want the timing for your own route? Send us the country and city and we will work it out for your item.