[spn]

Originally Posted by jmorrison

I couldn't wait any longer. I was able to find the exact same car I ordered which just left the VPC and is en route to the dealer. Placed a new deposit, signed some paperwork, abandoned my originally ordered E92 and will finally be behind the wheel of my new 335i by the weekend. Thanks for all the help SPN and good luck to everyone else waiting for their cars on the Centaurus Leader. My seemingly endless wait is almost over!

2008 335i Coupe. Space Gray/ Black Leather/ Popular Wood. Manual. Sports. Premium. Cold Weather. Navigation. Comfort Access. Ipod. HD Radio. Sirius.

Good deal! Congratulations!

[djlfp]

I also learned from the CG that CL had left port at 0025 Tuesday.

I spoke with NYK in New Jersey and was informed that all US west coast bound cars will be offloaded in Panama and reloaded aboard the Kassel (Voyage 75). That ship is currently scheduled to arrive at Port Hueneme on Mar 12 with offloading on 3/13.

[spn]

Originally Posted by djlfp

I also learned from the CG that CL had left port at 0025 Tuesday.

I spoke with NYK in New Jersey and was informed that all US west coast bound cars will be offloaded in Panama and reloaded aboard the Kassel (Voyage 75). That ship is currently scheduled to arrive at Port Hueneme on Mar 12 with offloading on 3/13.

That is good tracking, djlfp, and good news! It takes about three days to get to Pan Canal from Brunswick (that I remember). I will watch for her.

[djlfp]

The offloading will take place at the Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), which is near the north (Atlantic) end of the canal, so our only concern now is when the Kassel will transit. Scheduled to arrive (per Boyds) at 2000 on Mar 3 and transit on Mar 6. This seems like a reasonable schedule.

[spn]

Here's a current AIS map of the Atlantic Side of the PanCanal. I don't see either ship. Manzanillo is that inner bay area (the entrance to the canal) and is to the right where you see a clump of ships docked. So, we will eventually see both ships in that port to offload and load the cars.

[spn]

Boyd's shows CL arriving tomorrow, 2/29 and Kassel arriving 3/2, then transiting 3/4. That's ahead of previous schedule.

http://www.boydsteamship.com/daily_traffic_report.htm

[spn]

Centaurus Leader has reached the Panama Canal anchorage side. Falstaff is due to arrive, too.

[spn]

Here's an update for CL. She's kind of hidden. She will be heading to that inner bay on the right. That is the port of Manzanillo. No sign of Kassel, yet, but she should arrive soon.

[spn]

No big news. CL is actually parked in the outer bay. She's just sitting there. Haven't seen Kassel.

[spn]

She's on the move. She might be headed towards Manzanillo.

[spn]

CL has been sitting in Manzanillo since last night. I haven't seen Kassel, but according to Boyd's she isn't due until 3/2. What is interesting is the schedule shows CL transiting on the 3rd, but maybe she's headed back home to Japan for final repairs.

[spn]

CL is still sitting in port in Manzanillo. She's probably unloading cars, which are awaiting Kassel's arrival.

[spn]

Kassel is in the port of Manzanillo and it looks like CL has docked at another port next door.

[spn]

They are both still in their same positions as yesterday.

[djlfp]

Thanks for your work, spn.

Boyd's is still showing Kassel as scheduled to transit tomorrow morning. Grand Venus must have paid up and is transiting this morning so there will be no drag race; GV should beat K into PH by a day and be clear for K's arrival. My current guess is that K will hit Long Beach on the 10th or 11th and Pt H the 11th or 12th. It is even possible that the Global Leader may beat us there, despite the fact that they have not yet arrived at the Canal.

Unfortunately, we are at near the end of a line of ships headed for Pt H, so it may take awhile to clear customs and the VDC, especially if we have more than the average number of bumps and bruises from the rough handling.

[spn]

Well, K must be loaded with your cars now, as she has moved to the outer bay to wait her turn to transit. So, I am sure she will transit tomorrow morning, probaby very early. I typcially see these car-carrying super vessels on the PanCanal web cams at the Gatun Locks about 6 am MST. Because these ships are so huge and take up every inch of lock space, they take them through the locks first thing in the morning. Specially trained PanCanal pilots will board the ship to take her through all 50 miles of the PanCanal. She will end up exiting the PanCanal on the Pacific side late tomorrow afternoon. Here's the link to the PanCanal web cameras:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

I have access to the port of LB/LA vessel schedule, but only for seven days in advance. She's not showing yet. I will look again tomorrow to see when she's schedule to arrive there. Do we know she's going into LB/LA for sure? Maybe you have the WW schedule. I can't remember.

[spn]

Yes, I see Grand Venus on AIS. She's transiting now and almost to the MiraFlores locks. She's due into San Diego on 3/9, so you see that it takes about six days to get to SoCal.

Yes, K should reach SoCal on 3/10 or 3/11, probably to LA, but I won't be able to see that schedule until tomorrow. I don't see her on the SD schedule, so she must be going to PH just after LA.

[spn]

Actually, the port of LB/LA schedule only goes out six days. I can only see 3/3 to 3/8 right now, so we will have to wait a couple days to know when K is due into LB/LA.

[spn]

Here is a pic of Kassel. Watch for this ship in the PanCanal locks on Tuesday.

[spn]

This looks like Kassel coming into Gatun Locks.

[spn]

Well, this ship coming into the locks is Centaurus Leader. Kassel passed through just in front of her, but I missed those photos.

[spn]

Kassel will probably pass by the Centennial Bridge camera around lunchtime or a little after (unless she stops in Gatun Lake for awhile; then she will be delayed). The Mira Flores Locks camera is right around the corner from the Centennial Bridge camera, so after she passes under the bridge, switch to the Mira Flores camera. The high-res camera is also at Mira Flores, so check that one out. She will exit the canal system just before dinnertime.