Notes on Shipping to BASC
Rev 11 January 2010
BASC does not endorse or warrant the services of any companies mentioned here. BASC has not made an effort to verify these statements. These notes reflect experiences of some researchers; your experiences may vary. Feedback on this document may be directed to BASC using the Contact Us link on our website. Carriers vary in their ability to ship different types of packages to BASC in Barrow, Alaska.
The suggestions below should be taken as guidelines only. Many other exceptions may occur; but, one rule is always true--you can never start shipping your gear too early.
Ship your gear early, follow it every step of the way and be prepared to take action to get stuck packages moving again. Starting early keeps time on your side. Then enjoy getting your science done in the readily accessible Arctic environment around BASC.
Thanks to Matt Cottrell of the University of Delaware for starting this document and providing an excellent initial draft along with revision comments.
Alta Air Logistics (formerly NACLink)
Alta Air Logistics
1407 W. 31st Ave
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(w) 907.771.5408
(c) 907.351.9943
(f) 907.771.5499
Transit time from the East Coast is often measured in weeks for LTL (less than truckload). Often by multimode transport--truck in Continental US (CONUS); barge from WA to AK, plane from Anchorage to Barrow. Sometimes, truck from Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay, then plane to Barrow. Specify ahead of time what you expect, and be prepared to pay. If your shipment will go to Barrow, it will go by air at some stage. This means it must be packaged for air transport. If this doesnt happen at the supplier, it will have to happen at some point in the shipping chain. Beware inexperienced suppliers. Specify that you require air shipment, air-capable packaging.
FedEx has been reliable and rapid.
There is daily delivery of FedEx packages in Anchorage to Northern Air Cargo for daily flights to Barrow. This is weather dependent, of course. It is important to note that FedEx does not deliver to Barrow, but contracts with Northern Air Cargo to do so.
We recommend against sending dangerous goods/hazardous material via FedEx to Barrow because FedEx in the past has not forwarded dangerous goods/hazardous material packages to Northern Air Cargo. Also, be careful with "heavy" shipments, which may or may not be covered under existing freight handling contracts with shipping services. Invest the time before shipment to check these things out.
An employee in Barrow makes deliveries of packages from Northern Air Cargo (907 852-5300) at the airport in Barrow to BASC. "Heavy" items are often excluded from this. Do not assume "FOB" is into the hands of a BASC employee. Do not make arrangements for pallets or heavy freight without contacting BASC to work out the details.
Do not attempt to ship this material to BASC without contacting us to work out the
details in advance.
Confirm in advance that you or your institution are considered by the airlines to be a "known shipper" and that you have an active account with the chosen shipping organization. BASC may be a "known shipper", but we cannot incur cost on your behalf without prior arrangement for payment.
Dry ice can be purchased from vendors in Alaska and shipped to Barrow on Northern Air Cargo
Alaska Packaging, Anchorage (907) 272-8834
Tenth & M Seafood, Anchorage (907) 272-3474
Arctic Technical Services - (907) 452-8368
Take the package to Northern Air Cargo/Hageland for FedEx shipment back to your lab.
You will complete a FedEx air bill supplied at the counter in Barrow. Check ahead of time that these are available. You may need to speak directly with FedEx or fill out paperwork to print out from the web.
You will pay a separate charge for Northern Air Cargo to fly the package to Anchorage (NAC standard rate as of 26 July 2007 is 37.77 for packages less than 100 pounds, 19 cents per pound thereafter.).
FedEx picks up daily at Northern Air Cargo in Anchorage.
You must complete the FedEx airbill correctly.
Mark the check the box for "Dangerous goods no declaration required"
Mark the check the box for "Dry ice".
Indicate the weight of dry ice on the air bill.
Apply a FedEx UN1845 dry ice label to the box
Complete the label with your address (the shipper). Use the BASC address.
Complete the label with the ship to address (your lab).
Indicate the weight of dry ice on the label.
Bring your own dry ice label to Barrow in case there are none at the counter at Northern Air Cargo. Otherwise, be prepared to arrange with FedEx to send some labels and wait while they arrive.
Some FedEx employees are not aware that dangerous goods will be held for pickup in Anchorage and not forwarded on to Northern Air Cargo. This includes radioactive materials UN2910 limited quantity excepted packages.
The following represents researcher experience and advice. You may have a different experience.
Frozen samples shipped home on dry ice using FedEx require a completed hazmat declaration form, which is available from FedEx. The agent at the NAC counter can help you complete this form correctly for your dry ice package. The same applies to radioactive or any hazmat package. However, FedEx will not accept a form completed by hand. Ask the NAC agent to complete the form by hand then you drive back to BASC and complete and print a digital copy. Print four (4) copies for each package. Drive back to NAC and give them the printed hazmat form.
Northern Air Cargo has in the past required a hazardous materials declaration form to ship dry ice. This is not really a problem, but it is not necessary according to IATA and 49CFR regulations. When in this situation, work with the Barrow NAC representatives and contact the Anchorage hazmat specialists to resolve the issue. If you expect NAC to accept a package, expect that you will be required to label the package correctly and educate yourself about this responsibility. Your home institution should be able to help you with the proper training and information on labeling your package. Do not expect BASC to handle this for you without prior arrangement and agreement from BASC.
Call TGI freight in Anchorage (907 522-3088).
TGI will pick up your package at FedEx, for example, complete the necessary dangerous goods hazardous materials declaration and deliver the package to Northern Air Cargo for shipment to Barrow.
Vendors such as VWR, Fisher Scientific, Sigma-Aldrich and Perkin-Elmer Life Sciences may not be aware of the difficulty shipping hazardous materials to Barrow, so be sure to give them explicit shipping instructions when placing your order. Work with BASC ahead of time to plan your strategy. We recommend paying to ensure that vendors send packages by air for their entire journey, otherwise, they can get stuck at the point where they must go by air. There are special hazmat declarations and packaging that must be done for air travel which the vendor must do from the start.
Northern Air Cargo Anchorage (907) 243-3331
Northern Air Cargo Barrow (907) 852-5400
Alta Air Logistics Anchorage, Ed Lopez (907) 771-5408
Alaska Airlines Anchorage (800) 225-2752
Alaska Airlines Barrow (907) 852-8820
Alaska Packaging, dry ice Anchorage (907) 272-8834
Tenth & M Seafood, dry ice Anchorage (907) 272-3473
TGI Freight (Hazmat) - Anchorage (907) 522-3088
FedEx Hazmat Hotline (800) 463-3339 and press 81