Week 34 (8/17-8/23/2009) Support Group
#151
I did agree with folks who say that the automated guy is only updated once a day. When I checked at 3am Central this morning it still said Body Shop though the human the evening before said Paint Shop. Then when I checked again at 8am Central the automated had caught up and said Paint Shop as well. So that bracketed the "3-4am Pacific" time that was mentioned (by you, Ray?) as the possible once-a-day update time for the automated system.
Now, we'll see if it has an update tomorrow or Sunday? Does the train run on Saturday? I assume the shipyard is open just fine, as there are arrivals scheduled over the next couple days.
#152
#153
In looking at the Wallenius Wilhelmsen tracking page, I just noticed that the vast majority of the vehicles were loaded onto the Porgy before 3:30 pm - but, there were 7 cars loaded a couple minutes before 5 pm (four were MINIs). One of those four MINIs was Twiggy. Talk about cutting it close!
By the way, thanks for posting the webcam capture of the Porgy as she was docking last night.
#154
Ohh, Y2K Falcon, I forgot the ASK-MINI live desk is closed on weekends. Still, I think you have no reason to worry (although I'm sure the next two days are going to be rough!). The final assembly and quality inspections only take a day. All indications are that the factory operates every Saturday - and on Sunday once in awhile. Since the Electra doesn't set sail until Wednesday [correction: Tuesday], you should be OK.
Something else that might help reassure you. Before my MINI was completed, I tried to see if Wallenius Wilhelmsen had a booking reservation for Twiggy - "no records found." But, after she was loaded, I saw there was indeed a booking made on July 7th. I think the factory schedules production to match up with the ships that come and go.
And, as a final comforting thought, the Porgy started loading at 8:20 am today and there was a constant flow of cars until 3:30 pm. Then, an hour and a half later, four more MINIs were loaded (Twiggy was one of them). Twiggy did not arrive at the dock until 3:00 pm - it looks like those four late MINIs might have been hauled down from the factory on a truck since the last train had already left. If the Porgy had left at 6:00 pm as originally scheduled, it is highly unlikely Twiggy could have loaded at 4:57 pm. I think they hold the ships for cars that have a booking reservation.
I am sure your car will be done in time to be loaded on the Electra. I know, that's easy for me to say - and I'm not the one who will be losing sleep worrying about it.
Something else that might help reassure you. Before my MINI was completed, I tried to see if Wallenius Wilhelmsen had a booking reservation for Twiggy - "no records found." But, after she was loaded, I saw there was indeed a booking made on July 7th. I think the factory schedules production to match up with the ships that come and go.
And, as a final comforting thought, the Porgy started loading at 8:20 am today and there was a constant flow of cars until 3:30 pm. Then, an hour and a half later, four more MINIs were loaded (Twiggy was one of them). Twiggy did not arrive at the dock until 3:00 pm - it looks like those four late MINIs might have been hauled down from the factory on a truck since the last train had already left. If the Porgy had left at 6:00 pm as originally scheduled, it is highly unlikely Twiggy could have loaded at 4:57 pm. I think they hold the ships for cars that have a booking reservation.
I am sure your car will be done in time to be loaded on the Electra. I know, that's easy for me to say - and I'm not the one who will be losing sleep worrying about it.
Last edited by RayRatt; 08-28-2009 at 08:08 PM. Reason: correction
#155
#156
I think the train runs only when a ship is at port. The Google Earth photos of the Cowley MINI plant show a lot of storage lots - I doubt the port can store many cars. Remember, they build up to 800 MINIs per day.
#157
#159
RayRatt
After going through the production process together (same production start date), I went back and re-read the thread, "How to Track your MINI: Revised, Expanded and Updated"
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-updated.html
I found some statements to not be correct for this current climate (five or six day production week instead of seven, factory not running at full capacity, production shutdown for one or two weeks.)
"your final quality check at the plant is completed on Day 8."
This statements sounds like they are saying it takes one day to complete quality checks. It seems the quality check period is much shorter. We went from being in the paint shop one day to being transported to the point of exit the next day.
"Typically it takes about 36 hours for your MINI to arrive at the Southampton docks once you’ve passed Final QA. This is of course entirely dependent upon the freight train schedules which are out of anyone’s control."
If it takes 36 hours for our cars to arrive at Southampton, our cars will not be on the Porgy.
After going through this production process, I conclude that the production start date is carefully planned in advance, so the car will make it aboard a certain ship they have targeted for transport based on work week length.
Believing in this statement makes me extremely confident the Y2K Falcon's car will make it aboard the Elektra.
After going through the production process together (same production start date), I went back and re-read the thread, "How to Track your MINI: Revised, Expanded and Updated"
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-updated.html
I found some statements to not be correct for this current climate (five or six day production week instead of seven, factory not running at full capacity, production shutdown for one or two weeks.)
"your final quality check at the plant is completed on Day 8."
This statements sounds like they are saying it takes one day to complete quality checks. It seems the quality check period is much shorter. We went from being in the paint shop one day to being transported to the point of exit the next day.
"Typically it takes about 36 hours for your MINI to arrive at the Southampton docks once you’ve passed Final QA. This is of course entirely dependent upon the freight train schedules which are out of anyone’s control."
If it takes 36 hours for our cars to arrive at Southampton, our cars will not be on the Porgy.
After going through this production process, I conclude that the production start date is carefully planned in advance, so the car will make it aboard a certain ship they have targeted for transport based on work week length.
Believing in this statement makes me extremely confident the Y2K Falcon's car will make it aboard the Elektra.
#160
Well, I'm officially on Day 9. :(
Automated still says Paint Shop. And probably no update there until at least Sunday AM. Oh well... I'm just whining. It sounds like I'm fine, as long as there isn't something whacky going on.
I'm still wondering if I'm the last NAMer, (or last at all?) '09 being built..
The Elektra finally woke back up, after a long vacation in Bremerhaven (Germany) since 13/8. It had a couple things loaded that start "WMWMM" yesterday (BMWs?) and in the last hour moved across a little harbor on it's way to open waters. It's now in a little channel, perhaps being assisted by tugboat Lesum before it heads to Belgium, presumably to pick up chocolates for our Minis to enjoy on the long transatlantic voyage!
Meanwhile, someone tell the captain of the Porgy to start transmitting again.
Automated still says Paint Shop. And probably no update there until at least Sunday AM. Oh well... I'm just whining. It sounds like I'm fine, as long as there isn't something whacky going on.
I'm still wondering if I'm the last NAMer, (or last at all?) '09 being built..
The Elektra finally woke back up, after a long vacation in Bremerhaven (Germany) since 13/8. It had a couple things loaded that start "WMWMM" yesterday (BMWs?) and in the last hour moved across a little harbor on it's way to open waters. It's now in a little channel, perhaps being assisted by tugboat Lesum before it heads to Belgium, presumably to pick up chocolates for our Minis to enjoy on the long transatlantic voyage!
Meanwhile, someone tell the captain of the Porgy to start transmitting again.
Last edited by Y2K Falcon; 08-29-2009 at 06:23 AM.
#161
#162
After going through this production process, I conclude that the production start date is carefully planned in advance, so the car will make it aboard a certain ship they have targeted for transport based on work week length.
Believing in this statement makes me extremely confident the Y2K Falcon's car will make it aboard the Elektra.
Believing in this statement makes me extremely confident the Y2K Falcon's car will make it aboard the Elektra.
So, like you said, the entire production process appears to be driven by the date the ships will be in Southampton. For whatever reason, Twiggy was a little late getting to the dock (a dirty diaper?) so they appear to have held up the departure of the Porgy until those last seven cars (3 BMWs and 4 MINIs?) were loaded an hour and a half after all the others - just an hour before the original departure time (which didn't leave enough time to remove the ramp, close all the doors and prepare for sailing).
So, I agree that Y2K will likely fret and worry (just like I did) needlessly - his car will be ready to load on the Electra on Tuesday.
Last edited by RayRatt; 08-29-2009 at 09:45 AM.
#163
Check my work, UAL_, but I think that the Undine's NY arrival has been bumped to 9/4. Maybe it was slowed initially due to now deceased TS Danny.
I was actually going to up the OCD stakes, and take a path map for Danny, and overlay the paths of Undine, Porgy, and Elektra by date on it.
But thankfully, I see that Danny has been downgraded, and is no longer being tracked.
#164
Check my work, UAL_, but I think that the Undine's NY arrival has been bumped to 9/4. Maybe it was slowed initially due to now deceased TS Danny.
I was actually going to up the OCD stakes, and take a path map for Danny, and overlay the paths of Undine, Porgy, and Elektra by date on it.
But thankfully, I see that Danny has been downgraded, and is no longer being tracked.
I was actually going to up the OCD stakes, and take a path map for Danny, and overlay the paths of Undine, Porgy, and Elektra by date on it.
But thankfully, I see that Danny has been downgraded, and is no longer being tracked.
#165
#166
I'd be more worried if the lost signal happened in the mid-Atlantic. Especially if it was near a hurricane. Maybe the captain turned it off to keep the pirates from knowing where he is?
#167
Keeping close watch on the Undine! lol. I turned in my 2006 Cabrio yesterday, very sad. They loaned me a 2009 MCS Hatchback to drive. Wow what a difference, feel so much larger and with actual windows in the back seems so much brighter. Don't get me wrong I loved my Cabrio, but the visablity is so much better now. Now I can learn all the bells and whistles of the new car and when mine rolls into the Dealership I will be prepared..
#169
"Typically it takes about 36 hours for your MINI to arrive at the Southampton docks once you’ve passed Final QA. This is of course entirely dependent upon the freight train schedules which are out of anyone’s control."
If it takes 36 hours for our cars to arrive at Southampton, our cars will not be on the Porgy.
If it takes 36 hours for our cars to arrive at Southampton, our cars will not be on the Porgy.
So any car off the line right after a boat leaves gets the maximum wait at the factory, and others get a just-in-time train trip.
Typically makes it sound linear, when really it seems to be more driven (pun intended) by the boat schedules.
It helps to pass the time. *shrug*
Last edited by Y2K Falcon; 08-29-2009 at 10:04 AM.
#170
I read that thread, "How to Track your MINI: Revised, Expanded and Updated," like is was Gospel. With a scheduled completion date one day prior to ship departure, I was alike, "this car ain't getting on the Porgy." But what do you know! The people at Mini made it happen--they got the car on the ship.
#172
With the Undine scheduled to dock at the New York VDC in a couple of days, we need to gather our collective detective efforts to track the arrival. We will use this information to track the arrival of the Elektra as well.
Here is what I got so far.
BMW VDC
20 Colony Road, Jersey City, NJ
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Colony...image&resnum=1
1) We need an arrival time and a berth assignment
2) We different webcam angles of the New York harbor area so we can watch the Undine and Elektra dock.
Here is what I got so far.
BMW VDC
20 Colony Road, Jersey City, NJ
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Colony...image&resnum=1
1) We need an arrival time and a berth assignment
2) We different webcam angles of the New York harbor area so we can watch the Undine and Elektra dock.
#173
#174
Meanwhile, I have not found any live webcams that show the New York harbor (at least none that show the area where the Undine and Electra will pass through). I suspect the 9/11 paranoia caused the government to eliminate that kind of information from public view.
#175
This is as good as I think we are going to get - ship locations in New York harbor without a live webcam.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...0.6759&zoom=12
Click on the satellite view and zoom in to see all the cars on the dock at the VDC. So, sit back and wait for the Undine to arrive!
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...0.6759&zoom=12
Click on the satellite view and zoom in to see all the cars on the dock at the VDC. So, sit back and wait for the Undine to arrive!
Last edited by RayRatt; 08-29-2009 at 12:04 PM.