[reu2]

It turned North! WTF

I guess it is going to take the Elk over. Or more accurately the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Only the western side of the canal is part of Elk River.

[DuaneIndeed]

Yes, the Prime Ace appears to be headed toward the C & D Canal on it's way to Baltimore. According to the Army US Corps of Engineers that maintains the canal, 40% of the port traffic going to Baltimore passes through the C & D canal.

Here are some pics of a sister-ship to the Prime Ace, the Brilliant Ace, passing through the canal.

[reu2]

Originally Posted by DuaneIndeed

Yes, the Prime Ace appears to be headed toward the C & D Canal on it's way to Baltimore. According to the Army US Corps of Engineers that maintains the canal, 40% of the port traffic going to Baltimore passes through the C & D canal.

Here are some pics of a sister-ship to the Prime Ace, the Brilliant Ace, passing through the canal.

That first picture looks like it's passing under Route 13. I used to live in MD and passed by there a few times.

Thanks for the pics!

[DuaneIndeed]

The Prime Ace is in Baltimore! I picked up a live webcam shot as it passed under the Key Bridge! The camera is in the middle of the bridge (see my red dot and arrow) and it is aimed directly at Fort McHenry. The shot is dim, and you can only see the aft of the ship in the middle right side of the frame. The ship is moving left-to-right in the frame.

Anyhow, it exists! It's not just a blip on a map.

[Craibat]

Originally Posted by reu2

That first picture looks like it's passing under Route 13. I used to live in MD and passed by there a few times.

Thanks for the pics!

We were visiting friends last Summer who have a house on the Elk River. I remember my son making me take a picture of a huge ship heading up the river, because it was so out of place. I pulled up the picture and sure enough, it was the Adria Ace.

[reu2]

I did the same thing! It's the blob 2/3 up and 2/3 to the left. Watched it go under the same bridge, different angle.

It's finally here!


Well the ship anyway. Now it's back to the BMW line, I haven't found a way of tracking the Freight-liners after the VCP.

They should start offloading cars at 08:00 in the morning. My plan is to call my CA Monday and get a new Inquiry report to see if they can give a better estimated delivery date.

Here is my update Shipping Time line;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Prod # / Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - "Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit" [02]
2015-03-06 - "Transport to Port of Exit" (VIN on TransNet)
2015-03-06 - Arrival at Port by Road (TransNet 18:42)
2015-03-12 - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"
2015-03-18 - Left the Port by Ship (TransNet 09:06) MOL Voyage 0009A
2015-03-24 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information." [03]
2015-04-09 - Prime Ace Arrival at port NJ/NY - Bayonne
2015-04-10 - Prime Ace Arrival at port Baltimore - Dundalk
2015-04-11? - “At Port"
2015-04-12? - Cleared Customs
2015-04-13? - VCP (SC?) [04?]
2015-04-16? - Transport to Midwest
2015-04-21? - At Dealer [Finish?]
2015-04-23? - Pick up

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step {} = Ship Tracking

[reu2]

Here is a composite of the entire route.

[DuaneIndeed]

So I see the the Prime Ace is moored at the Dundalk side of the port. It is not moored at the new BMW terminal that is located directly south of the fort. I wonder why? I just happened to notice that another ship that came over from Bremerhaven was just recently off-loading at the new terminal. You'd think that BMW would want to keep their operation consolidated. The new BMW terminal is huge, while the space on the Dundalk side is smaller.

Does anyone know the logic behind this? Are they backed-up with cars at the ports?

[reu2]

Originally Posted by DuaneIndeed

So I see the the Prime Ace is moored at the Dundalk side of the port. It is not moored at the new BMW terminal that is located directly south of the fort. I wonder why? I just happened to notice that another ship that came over from Bremerhaven was just recently off-loading at the new terminal. You'd think that BMW would want to keep their operation consolidated. The new BMW terminal is huge, while the space on the Dundalk side is smaller.

Does anyone know the logic behind this? Are they backed-up with cars at the ports?

Not really sure, although I imagine it's easy to move cars when they're that close.

I did however find the news article with a video on the Port of Baltimore focused on BMW's deal.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/0...-of-baltimore/

Here is an article describing the BMW Dundalk VDC which is apparently run by WWL. I wonder if we'll be able to see tracking information in their site.

http://www.dundalkeagle.com/componen...center-at-port

[Jacobite]

Surely this thread will make it into a clinical psychiatry textbook on OCD?

[reu2]

Originally Posted by Jacobite

Surely this thread will make it into a clinical psychiatry textbook on OCD?

Yep.... Totally.

[DuaneIndeed]

A visual on the Prime Ace moored in Baltimore this morning. A view from the top of the Key Bridge, facing North.

[reu2]

The Prime Ace is well underway which officially means my Car is on American Pavement.

The WWL site doesn't list my VIN, but as it wasn't shipped by them I'm not surprised. It was a long shot that they'd log it there just because they run BMW Dundalk Port Operations.

The BMW Line has yet to update, but that's not unusual for it to be 24-48 behind.

Back to being in the dark at port....

[reu2]

As long as there isn't a work order opened on my car (no port installed options) my CA estimated arrival at the dealership on Sunday the 19th. Pickup could be as soon as Monday

He provided the below vehicle inquiry report.

The car has made it through customs and into the Final VPC system.

The Freight-Liner company is listed. Precision Motor Transport Group is a "Luxury Auto carrier" consisting of mostly Enclosed Carriers (pictured below) to protect high end cars. Their site says they have a "Customer-facing web presence enabling real-time load tracking, delivery schedules, and transit time data." I have yet to find itthough.

The BMW line still hasn't changed and list the car in transit. The Website is still on step 3, In route to U.S..

Here is the BMW Shipping Time line as it now stands;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Prod # / Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - "Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit" [02]
2015-03-06 - "Transport to Port of Exit" (VIN on TransNet)
2015-03-06 - Arrival at Port by Road (TransNet 18:42)
2015-03-12 - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"
2015-03-18 - Left the Port by Ship (TransNet 09:06) MOL Voyage 0009A
2015-03-24 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information." [03]
2015-04-09 - Prime Ace Arrival at port NJ/NY - Bayonne
2015-04-10 - Prime Ace Arrival at port Baltimore - Dundalk
2015-04-11 - Unloaded/Cleared Customs
2015-04-13 - Arrival at Final VPC
2015-04-14? - Process Confirmed [04?]
2015-04-16? - Ship from VPC
2015-04-19? - Dealer Delivery [Finish?]
2015-04-20? - Customer Pick up

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step {} = Ship Tracking

[reu2]

The BMW Line and Website updated today!

But it's the same message from the outgoing port. "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"

That painful message is just a reminder of the worst part of this process, sitting at port, going no where.

The website however paints a rosier tone, "Finishing Touches"

[reu2]

CA just sent me another Inquiry Report, it's already been released to the carrier. That's awesome news as it means two things. One, no repair order, which means no shipping damage so far. Two, according to the CA, it might get to the dealer as early as Friday.

Although the estimated shipping time hasn't changed, so I'll remain cautiously optimistic.

Interesting to note the vehicle has to be moved through 4 lots in the process through the VPC. I get Storage incoming, and Storage outgoing, but I wonder what the other two are.

[reu2]

My CA says the car could basically be there any minute. He says it's rare that a delivery isn't made a day or two before the "Dealer Delivery" estimate (19th). It's about an 800 mile drive from the Port of Baltimore. US truck drivers are only allowed to drive 11 hours a day following a minimum 14 hour rest period. So the approx. 13 hour drive will only take two days and the CA says it left on the 15th.

I'm not sure how long dealer prep takes, most estimate the day after delivery is when you get the car.

While I know it's on its way, the BMW Line still says "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time".

I really hate that that message at this point.

Precision Motor Transport Group doesn't have a public tracking site either. Interesting to note that it was easier to track the Car in South Africa than it is in the US. PMTG said (yes I called them) that only a BMW regional Manager can get VIN specific tracking information. So they have it, they just don't share it.

In Wisconsin, car dealerships are not allowed to be open on Sunday due to some anti-competition law to give dealerships a break. I'm fine with that, but if my car doesn't show today, it means I likely won't get it until Monday. Still beats my estimate after learning it's a SA build by 3 days. Obviously, I'm impatient and want it sooner than later.

[Craibat]

While I know it's on its way, the BMW Line still says "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time".

I really hate that that message at this point.


Just think-you won't have to hear it again until you order your next BMW!

[reu2]

Originally Posted by Craibat

Just think-you won't have to hear it again until you order your next BMW!

Way to be positive.

Still no word on it arriving today. Starting to look like Monday.

Where is your car at, is it crossing the atlantic yet?

[Craibat]

Originally Posted by reu2

Way to be positive.

Still no word on it arriving today. Starting to look like Monday.

Where is your car at, is it crossing the atlantic yet?

Not yet, currently in the English Channel. Due to arrive in Halifax, NS next Friday, so should get to NJ early the following week.

Here's my ship the Sunlight Ace while docked in Bremerhaven yesterday:

[reu2]

Originally Posted by Craibat

Not yet, currently in the English Channel. Due to arrive in Halifax, NS next Friday, so should get to NJ early the following week.

Here's my ship the Sunlight Ace while docked in Bremerhaven yesterday:

Nice screen grab, couldn't find any cameras for the Prime Ace other than Baltimore.

[Craibat]

Originally Posted by reu2

Nice screen grab, couldn't find any cameras for the Prime Ace other than Baltimore.

Thanks

This car has already seen more of the world than I ever will.