Shipping Goods to Antigua or Dominica

If you are shipping to Dominica or shipping to Antigua you will know that these are two of the smaller islands in the Caribbean. The population of Dominica is around 75,000 and the area of the island is just short of 300 square miles which is only twice the size of the Isle of Wight. Antigua is only just over 100 square miles and has a population of a little over 80,000. 

 

However, these islands have their own rules and regulations about what you can and can't import, whether you are moving there permanently or just sending some goods to friends. There are companies involved in the shipping business which ship to these islands on a fairly regular basis so they will be able to help you with the individual rules and advise things that you cannot import. Among others, these usually include seeds and plants, alcohol, furs, gambling devices, ivory, hazardous goods, and pornography.

Companies that ship to these islands will be able to supply barrels, cartons, and other packaging materials, and will also be able to provide a container if you need to ship a large quantity of goods. If you need to ship vehicles this can either be done on a Ro/Ro basis, flat rack, containerised, or shared container.

If you need to ship a large quantity of goods, you can always pack them yourself. However, it is usually better to have them packed by expert packers and shippers who will ensure that your items arrive safely and securely in Antigua or Dominica.  

Boxes or Barrels. Why Barrels?

Here is a thought: if you are considering shipping barrels to the Caribbean why use barrels? Surely they don't make maximum use of the space available in a container or anywhere else as a carton or box would?

And no, they don't.

However, there are a couple of very good reasons why, if you are shipping barrels to Barbados, you should use them instead of boxes or cartons. Very often, these barrels are found to be full of dry goods and items of clothing. Now you don't want to get them wet, and the barrels are far better at waterproofing than commercial shipping boxes.

But there is another reason as well, and this is one that you might never think of. Barrels are cylindrical. This means that they can be rolled around very easily by hand, and this is a huge benefit when loading or unloading from the deck of a ship, which has always been the most common method of transport to the Caribbean, as opposed to air cargo. You can't roll a crate or box: it has to be loaded and unloaded with a crane, as do barrels, but you can't easily move a crate around on deck or below deck. Barrels are very easy to move.

So now you know. They keep your goods dry and are easier to ship.

When packing barrels, always ensure that you place the heaviest items at the bottom and work upwards. Also, don't include any glass items. Some goods are not allowed to be imported, but you will need to check with the island to which you are shipping, as rules vary.

Finding the Right Company to Ship Your Goods to the Caribbean Is Important

Many manufacturing and wholesale businesses in the UK have customers in the Caribbean because, along with other countries, we make and supply things that they do not make or have themselves in the islands. If they do make them, they may find that ours are better quality, cheaper, and so on, so they prefer to import them from us. 

It follows that if you are such a manufacturer or wholesaler you will need to find a shipping company that you can rely upon to deliver your goods on time, failing which your customers will very likely go elsewhere. They are not going to be very happy if they keep running out of stock because of erratic supplies. You may be manufacturing and delivering to the shipping company on time every time, so in that sense it is not your fault, but you do need a reliable shipper.

Fortunately, in recent years there have grown some shipping companies who deal regularly with the Caribbean islands. If you are shipping to Barbados, or shipping to St. Lucia, there are companies who have become specialists in the area and they know all there is to know about the customs on the various islands along with the import regulations, so they can get your goods to its' destination island.

These shipping companies also have contacts and arrangements with transport companies on the islands who can get your cargo to the final destination which is your customer's business. 

Reasons to Move to Jamaica

Many people go to the Caribbean for a holiday and find out just how lovely the weather is and how laid-back life is in general on these islands, and this spurs them on to make the decision to mover there permanently. After all, if you have the choice, who wouldn't want to escape the harsh British winters? 

If you decide to relocate to the Caribbean, you have a choice of many different islands, but the fact is that a large number of people who do move there decide upon relocating to Jamaica. It is the third largest of the Caribbean islands and is 146 miles long and 50 miles wide. A large amount of the island is composed of limestone, and there are six mountain ranges and no less than 120 rivers, along with many springs.

The weather in Jamaica is tropical and ranges between 22°C and 31°C. The wettest months are May and June, and then October and November, when the sunshine is mixed with tropical downpours. From December to February the days are bright and sunny, and the nights cool. There are exotic trees, flowers, and wildlife that will astonish you.

Many people go to Jamaica to open a business. In 2015, Forbes Magazine listed Jamaica as the best place to do business in the Caribbean and included it in their list of Best Countries To Do Business overall. Throughout the island you will find many bars, restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment businesses that are owned by foreigners.

Jamaica Is a Wonderful Island to Retire To

Many people in the UK consider relocating to Jamaica. As you will know if you have ever been there on holiday, the weather is wonderful and warm, and the way of life is just so laid back. Contrary to what you may have read, the Jamaicans are friendly people and will welcome people who want to join their community. Having said that, you will need to adopt the local culture. Most of the population is black and you need to respect that.

 

Housing costs can vary quite a bit depending whether you want to live in an upper-class suburban community or out in the sticks. However, even in a suburban community the rents are a lot cheaper than they are in the UK. There is always a downside though, and in this case it is the cost of things in the supermarkets. Yes, you can buy your Scotch whisky there, but you will be paying far more for it than you would here. In general, you are better off buying locally made products, and shopping for fruit and veg in the markets.

There are some good medical facilities in Jamaica, but if you need some really specialist treatment, Miami is only a 90 minute flight away.

Of course, if you want to relocate to the Caribbean, Jamaica is not the only island by any manner of means. There are many other places to which you could go, but you really do need to do your research before making any long-term decisions.

Some Thoughts on Relocating To the Caribbean

If you are moving to the Caribbean, it is a good idea to seek out one of the UK shipping companies that specialises in shipping there. As with many other things, there are companies that are specialists in certain areas, and shipping to the Caribbean is no different. 

If you are relocating to Jamaica, or need your belongings shipping to Grenada there is always a temptation to undertake the packing yourself in order to save some money. However, this really is a false economy. Companies that specialise in the Caribbean and the West Indian islands also have expert packers on hand. Let's face it, the Caribbean is a long way to go, and you want your goods to arrive in the same condition as they left the UK, so you don't want them slipping and sliding about in a force 10 gale in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Another thing that will save you money is to leave behind things which are going to be of no further use to you. You might have a lovely heavy overcoat for use in the UK winters, but you simply don't need it in the Caribbean. Too many people emigrate there and then find years later that they brought things with them that they have never used since they arrived. You need to sit down and think things through carefully, because there is little point in paying for goods to be shipped to the Caribbean for which you actually have no further use.  

Shipping Goods to the Caribbean Islands

There are many reasons why someone would want to send goods to Trinidad or Suriname. You may be a manufacturer and exporter, you may be a wholesaler, you may have family there and want to send them physical items, or you may even have decided to move there permanently to be closer to relatives, or just because you have had enough of the English winters and want to live in the sun.

Whatever your reasons, if you need shipping to Trinidad or shipping to Suriname, or one of the other Caribbean islands, you need a shipping company that has expertise in shipping goods there. You need a company that you can rely on to get your goods halfway around the world so that they arrive on time when you need them to, and don't get stuck in a warehouse here in the UK or get stuck in customs at your destination. Let's face it: if you are shipping a barrel of goods to family in Suriname for a special occasion – family wedding, birthday, retirement party, or whatever – they have to get there in time for the big day.

Equally, if you are moving to one of the islands permanently – or even for a year or two as a student on a study course – you not only want everything to arrive on time, but you want it to arrive in exactly the same condition that it left the UK. This is why you need a company that specialises in your particular destination.

Sending Goods to the Caribbean Requires a Specialist Shipping Company

Many British companies have dealings with the Caribbean and send goods there as a matter of course. If you are a manufacturer or a wholesaler, you may need to ship goods to the Caribbean on a regular basis in order to keep your customers stocked with the goods that they need, which means that they have to arrive on time every time. 

If you are, say, shipping to St. Kitts or shipping to Grenada you may very well have your manufacturing process set up so that you can produce the products that your customers need, but there is another factor in the equation and that is the shipping company that you use. It is one thing getting your products to a shipping company's warehouse in plenty of time, but quite another for that shipping company to get your products halfway around the world in a timely manner.

You need your products delivered to your customers on time because if there are glitches and they run out of stock they are going to lose business. In turn, that means that they will look for another supplier and you will lose the business also, regardless of the fact that it wasn't your fault.

This is why finding a shipping company that knows all of the import regulations at the destination and can be relied upon to get your goods to the port on time is so critical. In the Caribbean, rules vary from one island to the next, so finding a company that specialises in shipping to your particular destination is vital.