So yesterday we took Elsie to the Brisbane docks the required 5 days before the ship's sailing date, and left her there - Hopefully in good hands.
She is stored inside after a special request from me, but it looks like the weather in Brisbane is going to be hot and sunny for the next few days, so there should be no problem with her being loaded wet, which was one of my fears. I have seen the results of that on some other cars that came out from UK in containers and were loaded wet - Big mildew problems inside the car !
Interestingly enough, the shipping people I am using (Skelton Sherborne) prefer to ship RORO than in containers, because they say they see just so much damage to vehicles in containers - the containers are loaded high above the water line so all movements are greatly exaggerated, plus the moisture issue is much greater in an enclosed environment, espcially if that container is on top or the sides where it is exposed to the direct sun etc. In RORO the vehicles are in the hold of the ship, so less movement, and the air can circulate more freely around them. I guess the real decision is cost (about 4 times more for containerised), and also whether you want to ship stuff inside your car (if you do, then containerised is a must as things tend to get stolen out of cars in RORO). Finally is the preference to get a vessel that does NOT tranship its cargo between loading and final discharge. Many vessels out of Australia to the US will tranship their cargo onto another vessel in Singapore or similar - I have specifically chosen a vessel that will sail the entire route from Brisbane to LA, so once Elsie is tied down, she stays there until arrival.
Anyway, she is now locked away at the Brisbane Port and will be loaded / sail from Brisbane on 8th January on the MV Figaro !!
(Update on 24.1.12. She didn't sail on the Figaro, but sailed a week later, on the 15th Jan, on the MV Taiko.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Taiko )
Elsie looked awfully small as she disappeared into the Port with all the big trucks !! Next time I see her will be on Feb 21st in LA !!!
