Cargo speciality
International explosives logistics
Door-to-door transport of UN Class 1 explosives by road, rail, sea and air, with the cargo details, permits and authority approvals arranged before anything moves.
In short
Class 1 is the reason this company exists. Explosives are refused by most networks, restricted at most terminals and governed by a different authority in every jurisdiction they pass through. We have been arranging their movement since 1989.
What makes a Class 1 movement different
An explosives consignment is not a normal freight booking with extra paperwork. The division and compatibility group determine what it can travel with, which vehicles and vessels will accept it, which routes are open, and how much can move in one unit. Get the cargo details wrong and the shipment is not merely delayed — it is refused, held, or unlawful.
Every leg is governed separately. Road and rail inside Europe run under ADR and RID, sea legs under the IMDG Code, air under the ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA DGR. National explosives law sits on top of all of it, and the competent authority changes at each border.
What we arrange
- Cargo details and UN number confirmed before booking
- Container stuffing for eligible ocean movements; marking, labelling and placarding coordinated for each leg
- Carrier, vessel and terminal acceptance, secured in advance
- Transit, import and export permits along the whole route
- Licensed magazine storage between legs
- Escorted movement and sealed handover where the cargo or the route requires it
- Documented chain of custody end to end
Cargo we handle
Commercial and industrial explosives, blasting agents and detonators; ammunition and its components; pyrotechnics and display fireworks; propellants; and defence consignments moving under government contract.
Common questions
Can explosives be sent by air freight?
Some can. Acceptance depends on the division and compatibility group, the carrier, the aircraft and every airport on the routing, and several divisions are barred from passenger aircraft entirely. It is settled carrier by carrier before a booking is confirmed, never assumed.
How long do permits take?
It varies by jurisdiction, from a few working days to several weeks, and transit countries are usually the constraint rather than origin or destination. Tell us the route early and we will tell you what governs it.
What do you need from me to quote?
UN number and proper shipping name if you have them, division and compatibility group, net explosive quantity, box details, weight and dimensions, the two ends of the lane and the date. If a cargo detail is still open, say so — we will tell you what the lane needs.
Moving something that needs explosives logistics?
Send the cargo, the two ends of the lane and the date. If we cannot move it ourselves we will tell you who can — same day.