Shipping: The Slow Boat to China

I've had my first productive conversation with a shipping agent today. It's an interesting process.

I began by contacting Asian Tigers, a Hong Kong based relocation firm. They referred me to Paramount Transportation Services (in Los Angeles), and Paramount, in turn, referred me to ABC Atlas Van Lines in St. Louis. That's a lot of connections! While I'm a bit worried that one will lose track of the other, my initial conversations with all three were positive and efficient. The local lady at ABC Atlas had some good info.

Apparently, it's going to take 6-8 weeks to ship things surface freight from St. Louis to Hong Kong. I have an agent coming to the house in a few weeks to do a survey of the things I want to take. I guess I better start deciding what is getting on the slow boat to China.