I'm not sure it works the same as when we ordered our Audi....
BUT, if you can find the ETA loading date on the ship, you can track it across the ocean maybe
See if this makes sense:
1. Get the ETA "loaded on ship date" from your dealership. Would think the ford team can help with that in the States.
2. Go to
http://www.pwl.de, click on the English flag for English language. Click on "schedules" on the left and scroll to see if you canfind your ships group like for the Audi it was Volkswagon Logistics.... Click on the PDF file. This brings-up a file that has the current schedule. Note the ship that corresponds with your loaded on ship date. Download the document because it changes regularly.
3. If, for the current example right now, the ETA is for your car to be loaded and arrive port on August 10 and 22 respectively, you're car will travel on the Cougar Ace. My car came in on this ship. Follow this line and search Google for more amazing stories about what this ship went through in 2006.
4. Once you know which ship you're on, go to either marine traffic or vesseltracker.
5. Find out from your dealership when the car was loaded on the ship. Ensure that the dates have not changed (I was originally on the Cougar Ace, changed to Neptune Ace, and then changed back to Cougar Ace which is the ship that my car got sent on).
6. Start tracking the ship. You can track it until it's off the coast depending on its destination track. You can see the ship "reappear" again around Halifax. It will disappear between Halifax and Quonset Port in Davisville, RI. Remember, unless you pay mucho $$, you will get delayed positions so don't pound your head against the wall if you don't see the ship there the day that it is supposed to be there.
7. The ships can get delayed. Cougar Ace got delayed at Zeebruge and Halifax for a total of 3 days. Many of the RO-RO carries are owned by either Wallenius-Wilhelmsen, Hoegh Lines, or Mitsui OSK lines to name a few. WW lets you track by VIN number so you can actually track your car by VIN for free. The Cougar Ace is owned by Mitsui OSK which does not allow public VIN tracking, but if you know which ship you are on, you can track the schedule here.
8. Once the ship leaves Davisville, your car has (most likely....hopefully) been offloaded. Your car is now with Norad, Inc being processed at the port. All port-installed accessories are being installed, checks are being made, and it's getting loaded on truck or rail to get to the dealership. (I'll regret it everyday to Sunday, but a little birdie gave me a number to talk with somebody at the port office and track the car at this point by VIN for ETA to dealership but I was sworn to secrecy. If you can figure it out, you've done so on your own).
9. If your car is going to the Western side of the US, it's going to Houston or San Diego (from what I've gathered...not sure for certain). I have nothing else to say about that.
So for all you OCD people like me, you know how to track your car from Germany to the eastern US. Please feel free to add to the thread or ask questions.
again, this was for my Audi from Germany to Houston.... YRMV
but using the maritime tracking can keep you occupied waiting ont he slow boat to wherever
Maybe you can reverse it going back to Germany ???
