Any advice for a mixer going to Africa?

[Phil Rosati]

Hey guys, I am heading to Africa, Senegal to be exact. I am going on a documentary shoot for about 9 days. A long running doc that I've been on for a while, and this is not their first trip, but is mine. My plan thus far is to consolidate. I am getting a Petrol organizer, or possibly a Portabrace, so that I can carry all my gear onboard the flights. This will also force me to bring only the essentials( SD 442, 3 Lectro's blocks 21 and 28, Senn 416, Li-Ion NP1's, camera snake). Any advice for how to travel, making it through TSA, caring for equipment, freq concerns, anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!

Phil Rosati

philip.rosati@gmail.com

PS Sorry if this is the wrong discussion section!

[curleysound]

This info is not specific to Africa, but general international travel advice:

1. Make a manifest of all equipment, serial #s and value of each and every piece, and make copies of this, as well as your passport, health insurance, and other ID. Bring one with you, and keep one at home, along with phone numbers to the US embassy in your destination country (in case things go badly)

2. Make sure the production is FULLY insured

3. Make the production hire a Customs Concierge (This is called different things in different countries, but they are a moderator for the customs process)

4. Bring backup cables, batteries, etc. to CYA!!!

5. Don't drink the water!

Good luck,

Tom

[Sergio Sanmiguel]

I went to Mexico City last month shooting a program for NATGEO, documented my large equipment in two pelican cases 1610 & 1650, I distribute the weight not to go over 60 lb. (not an easy task) The smaller but heavy stuff I carried-on a third pelican case (1510) including microphones, wireless systems & non lithium batteries, this because I knew from past experience that sometimes you'll be required to gate-check small carry-on bags prior to get in the plane, so that extra protection from a pelican case is desirable.

For Senegal you'll require a ATA Carnet...

ATA Carnet

What is an ATA carnet?

The ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that a traveler may use temporarily to import certain goods into a country without having to engage in the Customs formalities usually required for the importation of goods, and without having to pay duty or value-added taxes on the goods.

The United States allows for the temporary importation of commercial samples, professional equipment and certain advertising materials by a nonresident individual.

Carnets are a security that participating countries accept as a guarantee against the payment of Customs duties that may become due on goods temporarily imported under a carnet and not exported as required. “ATA” stands for the combined French and English words “Admission Temporaire-Temporary Admission.”

Why use an ATA carnet?

The ATA carnet simplifies the Customs formalities involved in temporarily importing goods into the U.S. and other countries. Without a carnet it would be necessary to go through the Customs procedures established in each country for the temporary admission of goods. The carnet allows the business traveler to use a single document for clearing certain categories of goods through Customs in several different countries. It may be used for unlimited exits from and entries into the U.S. and participating foreign countries during the one-year period of validity. They are accepted as the entry document and satisfy the importer’s obligation to post a security in more than 87 countries.

Why not use Temporary Importation under Bond?

Foreign importers who choose to use a TIB to temporarily enter goods into the United States must file either Customs Form (CF) 3461, “Entry/Immediate Delivery,” or 7501, “Entry Summary” to clear their shipment. This usually necessitates leaving the passenger terminal and going to the Cargo Entry Branch office, or having a Customs broker do your legwork for you. The importer will also need to secure a bond from a licensed surety. No forms, other than the carnet, need to be filed for goods entered under an ATA carnet.

What are the Importer’s Obligations?

A carnet holder is obligated to present the goods and carnet to Customs to prove exportation. Failure to prove exportation on either a TIB or a carnet subjects the importer to liquidated damages equal to 110 percent of the duty and import tax. Goods imported under either a TIB or a carnet may not be offered for sale.

Who issues ATA carnets?

Domestic associations in participating countries that are members of the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce issue carnets to residents to be used abroad. The United States Council for International Business USCIB - United States Council for International Business (USCIB) has been designated by the U.S. Customs Service as the United States issuing and guaranteeing organization. A fee is charged by the Council for its service. The guaranteeing organization is held liable for the payment of liquidated damages if the carnet holder, such as the importer, fails to comply with Customs regulations.

How long is an ATA carnet valid for?

An ATA carnet is valid for one year from the date of its issuance. Merchandise listed on an ATA carnet can be imported to and exported from any of the member countries as many times as needed during the one-year life of the carnet.

What goods may be entered under an ATA carnet?

Commercial samples, professional equipment and advertising material can be imported into the United States by a nonresident.

Other countries permit the use of a carnet to import the above materials and other categories of goods such as:

• Ordinary goods such as computers, tools, cameras and video equipment, industrial machinery, automobiles, gems and jewelry, and wearing apparel.

• Extraordinary items, for example, Van Gogh’s self-portrait, circus animals, jets, band instruments, satellites, human skulls, and the New York Philharmonic’s equipment.

What does a ATA carnet not cover?

Merchandise not covered by the three above listed categories of goods are not eligible for importation into the U.S. by carnet. In addition, merchandise within those three categories intended for sale or sale on approval cannot be entered on a carnet – it must be entered as a regular Customs entry.

What happens if the goods are not exported?

If the holder of an ATA carnet sells, donates or otherwise disposes of any of the goods listed on the carnet, the issuing organization will be required to pay liquidated damages equal to 100 percent of the import duties and taxes. That organization in turn will attempt to collect these moneys from the holder of the carnet who violated the terms. In some cases, the country where the violation occurred will hold both the organization that issued the carnet and the importer equally responsible. The importer is liable to his/her issuing association (and, in some cases, to the Customs authorities of the country where this transpired) for all duties and/or taxes and other sums which would normally be charged on the importation of such goods, as well as the amount charged as liquidated damages. If the U.S. Customs Service finds that there was fraud involved in the importation, additional penalties may be assessed.

What happens when goods covered by a U.S.-issued ATA carnet are reimported into the U.S.?

If goods covered by a U.S.-issued carnet are brought back into the United States within the validity period of the carnet, the carnet serves as the Customs control registration document and must be presented on re-importation. Whether the re-imported goods are subject to duty depends on exemption in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule Please update your bookmark. and not on their status as carnet goods. See 19 CFR 141.4 for goods that are exempted from entry documentation requirements and 19 CFR 141.2 for goods exempted from duty on re-importation.

What if the ATA carnet has expired?

If the expiring ATA carnet is a U.S.-issued carnet there will be no penalties or duties assessed by the United States, however, there may be penalties assessed by a foreign government if the carnet expired before the U.S. merchandise was exported from that country.

If the carnet is foreign-issued then liquidated damages will be assessed by the U.S. Customs Service due to the carnet expiring before the merchandise could be exported out of the United States.

What is contained in an ATA carnet document?

The carnet document has a green cover page which provides the names of the carnet holder and issuing association, the carnet issue date, the carnet number, the countries in which the carnet may be used and a complete description of the goods covered. Two yellow sheets in the package are to be used upon exportation from and reimportation back into the issuing country. White sheets are used for the temporary importation into and reexportation from the second or additional countries. Blue sheets are used when transiting though countries.

Each sheet contains two parts – a counterfoil, which remains in the carnet and describes the actions taken by Customs officers each time goods enter or leave a country, and a detachable voucher, which contains a list of the goods covered by the carnet and serves as the required Customs document.

How is a U.S.-issued ATA carnet processed by Customs?

When leaving the United States, the holder of a U.S.-issued ATA carnet presents the carnet and the covered goods to a Customs officer. The carnet is reviewed for completeness and accuracy and the goods are examined to ensure that they match the carnet list. The officer then validates the carnet document and certifies the appropriate exportation counterfoil and voucher. The carnet and the U.S. Customs-certified export voucher are returned to the carnet holder who retains the voucher as the permanent record of the Customs transaction. (Note: The carnet does not affect export control requirements such as the filing of a shipper’s export declaration or the requirement to obtain export licenses.) Upon return to the United States, the holder of a U.S.-issued carnet presents the carnet and covered goods to a Customs officer for examination. The officer certifies the appropriate reimportation counterfoil and voucher and returns the carnet to the holder for further use or surrender to the issuing association. (Note: On U.S.-issued carnets only, the vouchers of the yellow exportation/reimportation sheets will not be detached, but will remain with the document when departing or returning to the United States.)

It is the responsibility of the carnet holder to present the carnet to the Customs authorities when entering or leaving a country in order that the necessary verification and certification of the appropriate vouchers and counterfoils can take place. Failure to do so may result in a claim being made. A claim is a notice from a Customs authority of the country of import that a violation of the carnet system has occurred and payment of duties, taxes, and penalty are required.

How is a non-U.S.-issued ATA carnet processed?

When processing a foreign-issued carnet, Customs must create a record of the transaction in order to protect the revenue and domestic commerce. Therefore, the U.S. Customs officer responsible for clearing the temporary importation must ensure that the port of importation, dates of Customs activities, and any departure from the original list of articles, are clearly shown in the appropriate fields.

When the merchandise leaves the U.S. the Customs officer must ensure that the required exportation dates are complied with, that the original list of articles agrees with what is being exported, and that the appropriate voucher is detached and forwarded to the port of importation.

What countries use the ATA carnet?

ATA carnets can be used in the following countries:

Algeria

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Balearic Isles

Belgium

Botswana

Bulgaria

Canada

Canary Islands

Ceuta

China

Corsica

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechoslovakia

Denmark

Estonia

European Union

Finland

France

French Guiana

French polynesia- including Tahiti

Germany

Gibraltar

Greece

Guadeloupe Bailiwick of Guernsey

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

India

Ireland

Isle of Man

Israel

Italy

Ivory Coast

Japan

Jersey

Korea (Rep. Of)

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Macao

Malaysia

Malta

Martinique

Mauritius

Mayotte

Melilla

Miguelon

Monaco

Morocco

Namibia

Netherlands

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Reunion Island

Romania

St. Barthelemy

St. Martin, French part

St. Pierre

Senegal

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti

Tasmania

Taiwan 

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

Wallis & Futuna Islands

The listed countries are Contracting Parties to the ATA convention that established the ATA carnet system. Countries are added to the ATA system periodically. Call the Council for International Business at (212) 354-4480 to determine if the country to which you are traveling accepts carnets. The United States acceded to the ATA Convention on December 3, 1968 and began issuing ATA carnets in late 1969.

Where may I obtain additional information on the ATA carnet?

The United States Council for International Business is located at

1212 Avenue of the Americans, New York, New York 10036-1689,

telephone (212) 354-4480, fax (212) 944-0012, and should be contacted for further details concerning the issuance of ATA carnets.

The Internet address is USCIB - United States Council for International Business

The application form for the ATA carnet can also be downloaded from that website.

Other questions may be referred to the U.S. Customs Service,

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20229.

Attn: Office of Trade Programs, (202) 927-0300.

Report Drug Smuggling to U.S. Customs Service 1 (800) BE ALERT

[ptalsky]

Phil, another thing to be aware of - you may have to check any boom poles you are carrying.  I can't get a consistent answer from TSA (I ask at every airport I travel through, since I travel a lot).  Mostly, the answer I get is that it is an agent's call at the time you try to pass through security. 

Another thing to think about - allow lots of extra time to get through security.  The one time I did travel with wireless sets, they hand inspected all of my carry-ons.  I've heard from others that they have gone through the same thing.  And I agree with the other poster that you should get hard cases even for your carry-ons in case you have to check them at the gate.

(Another) Phil

[Phil Rosati]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I am now rethinking the carry-on decision with a petrol or portabrace, and thinking a pelican case the size of Sergio's may be the better choice, just in case I do have to check it plane-side. While I think it would be safer to ship ahead of time, I don't think there is enough time to get it there before we do, or anyone safe to send it to. The camera and deck gear will also be flying with us, so I feel safe having it with me, and will also have a good, safe place to put a boom instead of carrying it on.

The paperwork, specifically the Carnet info, is greatly appreciated. I didn't know this was something I had to do, and I don't think the producers did either. So, thanks very much.

We leave (barring any complications, fingers crossed) in less than a week. My shots are up-to-date, including yellow fever, and I will be packing, and repacking I'm sure, in that time. If anyone else has anything they'd like to add, it would be greatly appreciated, and I will definitely let people know how it goes, with pics I hope!

Thanks again.

Phil

[JDirckze]

I'm in Africa at the moment, Botswana to be exact...

I carry the key pieces of gear in my PEGZ-1 Eargonizer on board with me, but make sure that everything is unplugged as they usually want you to take the mixer out and all the wireless gear. Also, I take off all antennae... I haven't had to check my gear at the gate before, but thanks for making me paranoid. I may reconsider my M.O in the future and try and fit everything into a 1510 for carry on. I also always pack my boom in my other Pelican (1564)

Good luck in Africa! Make sure you get the appropriate shots and check for the prevalence of Malaria where you are going. Wear some sun screen and light clothing. It sometimes is cool here in the evenings.

[resonate]

Hello All!

I've been asked to work for a documentary shoot that's happening in Senegal, Dakar to be exact. My workflow is going to be two Canon cameras 5d and 7d which i will feed wirelessly with sennheiser systems, and i will record double system on my mixer&recorder combo. (442&680). My biggest gripe is radio frequencies. I have two Micron Explorer 100 systems on UK69 freqs (841-864) and a sennheiser radios that work on similar frequencies for Europe - 830-866) That corresponds to lectro block 33 roughly. Can i safely and reliably use those in Senegal?

Also, is it true that i should NOT bathe myself in the ocean so i don't get sick with any of the possible diseases i can get there? My doctor said so, and I was pretty sad to hear that

Thanks for all the info around here, really invaluable stuff.

B

[Jon Gilbert]

Senegal is one of the most liberal, progressive advanced African countries, bathe in the tub, have a shower, go crazy!

Are you the same mixer asking similar questions on Facebook? The same advice goes....

[Boomboom]

I usually have a quick peek there before going for work or vacations...

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/senegal

[studiomprd]

Can i safely and reliably use those in Senegal?

can you ??

[resonate]

Jon, yes i am. Just getting a little extra catious i guess.

I will have a look there Pierre, thanks!

Senator, i can use them safely and reliably in Poland that's for sure :-)

[fieldmixer]

First, be mindful of all water. I brushed my teeth once with tap. Big mistake. Be mindful of ice as well. Fanta, beer, cider and gin and tonics are good. With regards to packing for flight, I not a fan of the small pelicans, I opted for a lowepro backpack, the big one. Easier to carry and versatile. It's cabin approved and padded even if you gate check. Boom pole slides in little loops on the side. Perfect in my opinion. I carry on everything, the backpack filled to capacity and my petrol bag packed with mixer and all rf's. Nothing left to chance.

Gear is on the left and personal bag on the right.

[resonate]

I was thinking the same thing, to take my field bag with me to the plane. But i wonder if the let me in with my large VDB pole. I thought that with the PCV case i have for it, i can shrinkwrap it to the checked baggage.

[studiomprd]

i can use them safely and reliably in Poland that's for sure :-)

Then I have every confidence you can use them safely in Africa, as well...

As to reliability, well there are a lot of varying factors, including local uses of the spectrum, but, at the worst, you should be able to find a couple frequencies that work pretty well, though legality is something you need to determine from a competent source...

Dovi tzenya

[Rich Reilly]

Good to have a broad spectrum antibiotic like Cipro, maybe some immodium with you. Stay away from raw fruits and veggies unless peelable.

Not a dig at any particular country. I had a bad bout after visiting France. might have picked it up in an airport as far as that goes.

[Simon Hayter]

I've spent many months working in almost all countries in Africa (lucky me!) and I'm pretty sure you won't run into any RF problems at all in Senegal. Hard cases are good. I have to disagree with fieldmixer (sorry) and say that I always brushed my teeth with the local tap water and never suffered at all, in fact I figured a gradual exposure to the local bugs gave me a degree of immunisation. YMMV. Be patient with the local officials. Listen to your fixer. Get some DEET anti mosquito spray and use it. I would only take a small pole. I use an ambient quicklok that collapses to about 3 feet and extends to about 8, I love Africa, enjoy!

Simon

PS The gear will be fine

[Jon Gilbert]

Immodium is a must wherever you're going, I even take it when I visit the States.....

Cipro isn't the magic bullet people think, it's effect is pretty limited against most things you'll encounter, common sense and good food hygiene are a better idea then relying on antibiotics.

[resonate]

All good advice! I edited my post - my doctor actually said that i should wear no sandals and should not walk on the beach barefooted, and not step into the ocean - really sad! I hope it's bogus advice.....for the ocean part at least!

[Rich Reilly]

Didn't mean to take Cipro preventatively...that would be the role of food hygiene etc. But if something starts brewing and you don't have the time to sort out a more specific approach, might help to have some on hand.

[Boomboom]

Look for DUKORAL ; it's a relatively recent anti-turista drink you take a few days before departure and it's very efficient at keeping you away from even the need to have Immodium or worse, Cipro during your trip (Cipro must be taken kind of in last resort if both your outputs overclip and your limiters are totally gone)...

[Rich Reilly]

Interesting:

http://dukoralcanada.com/

looks to be distributed solely out of Canada?

http://www.blueskydrugs.com/Product/Dukoral

[Simon Hayter]

All good advice! I edited my post - my doctor actually said that i should wear no sandals and should not walk on the beach barefooted, and not step into the ocean - really sad! I hope it's bogus advice.....for the ocean part at least!

Oh, for heavens sake.

[Tapio]

I thought Dukoral was a vaccine for cholera. At least that's what I took it for before heading to Haiti in january 2010.

I also took a 150 mg daily dose of Doximycin (doxicycline) for prevention of malaria. It also prevents other bacteria based diseases from contaminated food, drinking water etc...

[resonate]

Oh, for heavens sake.

Yeah, fuck it, i will do it anyway, right?

[Rich Reilly]

"DUKORAL®* is indicated for the prevention of and protection against travellers’ diarrhea and/or cholera in adults and children 2 years of age and older who will be visiting areas where there is a risk of contracting TD caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or cholera caused by V. cholerae. Protection against diarrhea caused by ETEC starts one week after the 2nd dose and lasts for 3 months. Booster doses are required beyond 3 months for travellers’ diarrhea and 2 years for cholera. It does not treat travellers’ diarrhea once it develops and does not prevent diarrhea caused by other organisms. "