How to track the car you have ordered?

[Corey_R]

Thanks for the info Darren. The information and links in your post are already in the 1st post of this thread, but if someone can confirm the details for the iPhone app, I may add that to the 1st post

[Mr_Bob]

Thanks Darren!

My car was loaded a couple of weeks ago,
My vessel name is "Bess" the tracker says it left South Africa on the 24th Sept
but the live position tracker doesn't locate it. (only shows a tug called Bess, no cargo ships)

Might give the app a go later

[Darren]

OK, according to the iPhone App, there are two x Bess (cargo and tug). The cargo Bess shows up on her way to Freo (due to arrive on Oct 5 @10pm).Bess left Durban on 24/9/10 @6.08pm.....

Sounds like I've just verified what you possibly already know...

I haven't tried to locate Bess on my other desktop system, I have a few customers interupt my search....Give it a go

[Darren]

This is weird.....Bess is not located on: Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions but it does appear on the iPhone app 'Ship Tracking'.

Not sure why, perhaps search the freight company for a schedule on Bess arrivals at the various ports till yours. Then back track with other details!! Can always ring dealer for a VW Aust update, they should be able to help with more info, if just to verify what you know.

Keep me posted

Darren

[Darren]

The last updage from the vessel was 6 days ago, (circa 24/9) so I think that the transmitting beacon and/or receiving station is not updating correctly.... Unless something's happened to the vessel (I doubt) I think it will randomly just appear on the charts once it's in range of an operational beacon...

Meanwhile, its not long till she arrives!

[Corey_R]

This is weird.....Bess is not located on: Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions but it does appear on the iPhone app 'Ship Tracking'.

Not sure why, perhaps search the freight company for a schedule on Bess arrivals at the various ports till yours. Then back track with other details!! Can always ring dealer for a VW Aust update, they should be able to help with more info, if just to verify what you know.

Keep me posted

Darren

Again, as per the information in the 1st post of this thread, the Live Ship Maps only update the positions when the vessels are within range of shipping ports. Have you noticed how there is no vessels way off in the middle of any of the oceans?

This is what intrigues me about the iPhone app. I wonder whether it is actually recieving different data that the tracking websites don't, or whether it's just "guestimating" the ships position based on its charter and elapsed time?

[Darren]

It appears Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions display vessels in the middle of the ocean (see Cape Horn, several are rounding the bend) apparently all commercial vessels have a beacon that relay's position constantly. I'm not sure about the iPhone app as my vessel is moving through English Channel at the monement and her position is being relayed.

[Corey_R]

"Rounding Cape Horn" is hardly in the middle of the ocean... Yes, it's outside of a port, but it's not showing them once they're out of range of the "towers" (or whatever it taking the data) of these ports. Hence why you can only find ships within a few hundred km of the coasts of all the countries, and not over the "indian ocean" or "pacific ocean" labels etc.

This thread has been going for 81 pages and over a year... many people have come in here during that time and asked the question of why "their car has disappeared"....

[Corey_R]

Sorry to double post, but here you go, directly from the Marine Traffic.com FAQ:

What is the range AIS covers?

Normally, vessels with an AIS receiver connected to an external antenna placed on 15 meters above sea level, will receive AIS information within a range of 15-20 nautical miles. Base stations at a higher elevation, may extend the range up to 40-60 nm, even behind remote mountains, depending on elevation, antenna type, obstacles around antenna and weather conditions. The most important factor for better reception is the elevation of the base station antenna. The higher, the better. We have seen vessels 200 nm away, with a small portable antenna placed on an island mountain on 700 meters altitude! Our base stations cover fully a range of 40 miles and periodically receive information from some more distant vessels.

So there you go, straight from their site, the average base stations only give 40 to 60nm range, and even the antennas put on a mountain will still only give up to 200nm range.

Hope this clarifies everything. Cheers.

[Darren]

Good FAQ's, so that about covers it. Thanks for keeping me occupied with this thread, as my vessel and new Golf are now 70nm closer. Now only 38 days to go!

[Mr_Bob]

Thanks guys,
Yeah i know it's only when in range,
but my vessel had 3 stops in South Africa, and i checked 2-3 times on on all 3 days, and it never came up.
I'm guessing my ship has gone under the radar

the schedule says it hits fremantle on the 6th i think, so i should jsut be happy that it's earlier than my initial delivery estimate, and shut up.

but like Darren, i'm just a little excited, and would like to watch a marker progressing across an ocean
thing is, with <2weeks to go, it's hardly worth sorting out an app.

Now... do i take annual leave to get some spy shots when they unload the boat in Port Kembla,
Or is that the epitome of pathetic?

[Darren]

It's not pathetic at all, but who am I too talk after spending my working time this morn, checking the whereabouts of a vessel called 'Bess' for someone that I don't even know...I say take the time off, stalk the vessel properly for closure!

[dave_r]

This is what intrigues me about the iPhone app. I wonder whether it is actually recieving different data that the tracking websites don't, or whether it's just "guestimating" the ships position based on its charter and elapsed time?

Like everything about the iPhone, it just pretends to work or know what it's doing

[AJW]

Looks like my GTI is also on the FAUST
Dealer thought that it would arrive at Port Kembla on the 15th of Nov but according to the website it looks like it might arrive on the 9th.

[mr fox]

just received an email, and we are at checkpoint 8 as of 22/09, week 38 day 3.....
vin, chassis and engine numbers now confirmed...