Shipping the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec to the U.S. – The Diesel Driver – The Joy of Diesel Driving

THE VOYAGE TO BALTIMORE

The Independence II, built in 1994, joined Arc’s fleet in 2008 as part of the company’s fixed-day-of-the-week service alongside the Courage, Integrity, and Patriot. It sails under the U.S. flag.   The ARC fleet is manned by Seafarers crews and American Maritime Officers.

The Independence II has adjustable decks and can be easily configured for a mix of high and heavy cargo, military rolling stock and tracked vehicles, commercial and privately-owned autos, and breakbulk (i.e. non-container) cargo.

The Independence II arrived in Baltimore on schedule and, by the time it had been off-loaded from the vessel, the E350 had been pre-cleared by U.S. Customs.  The vessel left the next day, heading for Charleston, South Carolina and Brunswick, Georgia.

The customs process for European Delivery vehicles is rather different from that for new vehicles.  At the Port of Baltimore, while new vehicles go completely paperless (for example, there is no need to file a paper Customs Form 3461, among others), E.H. Harms USA had to submit multiple paper documents including the customs entry once customs cleared the vehicle electronically.  These included the 3461 (Entry/Immediate Delivery form), the 7501 (the Entry/Summary form), an HS 7 Declaration (confirming that the vehicle confirms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards), and an EPA declaration (confirming that the vehicle meets Federal air pollution regulations) although all of these must be printed out, sent to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and be returned with a CBP stamp before the vehicle can be released to Mercedes-Benz.

It takes several days for Harms to receive the paperwork back but, once this was in hand, the vehicle was transported to the nearby Vehicle Preparation Center, where it was checked out carefully after its voyage for any possible damage and received updates including U.S. map data.

VIRTUAL TOUR: AUTOTERMINAL BREMERHAVEN

THE DROP-OFF

THE VOYAGE OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC ON THE INDEPENDENCE II

VIRTUAL TOUR: AUTOTERMINAL BREMERHAVEN TESTING FACILITIES

VIRTUAL TOUR: LOADING SHIPS IN BREMERHAVEN

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