Getting parcels, spares and equipment through UK customs correctly, and stored securely until a vessel is ready to collect, is often more about paperwork than logistics. Altham handles the customs clearance and storage side of a port call so the vessel, agent or chandler doesn’t have to manage it directly.

This covers goods coming into the UK for a vessel, goods being temporarily exported for repair and returned, and everything in between. Where clearance is needed, we handle the documentation and liaise directly with customs, so goods move through without delay caused by paperwork issues on the vessel’s side.

Our parcel handling and storage service typically covers:

• Customs clearance for incoming and outgoing goods
• Cargo and parcel storage ahead of collection
• Temporary export for repair, with correct documentation for return
• Full freight forwarding, worldwide
• Coordination with vessels, agents and freight partners

Temporary export for repair is a service worth knowing about specifically. Where a part needs to go back to a manufacturer or specialist for repair, getting the export and re-import paperwork right avoids unnecessary duty charges and delays. This is something we handle regularly and can talk through before you commit to a repair route.

We also offer a full freight forwarding service, moving spares from the engine room to any destination worldwide and back again, in accordance with UK and EC customs regulations throughout.

Turnaround matters here as much as accuracy. A vessel working to a port schedule cannot afford clearance delays, so our process is built to move goods through as quickly as the paperwork allows, with clear communication if anything is holding a shipment up.

If you need customs clearance, parcel storage or help with a temporary export, get in touch and we’ll talk through what you need.