Its a few things unclear here.
1,what old is a vehicle .If 15 y old in case 1990 which month.
2,Who asked for import approval .You did or Your friend ,friend/f,f/.
On which name is a aprroval isued
3,Who paid for car to Japan .You did directly to Japan or Your f,f and Yopu gave him cash
4,Do You have any paper work in Your hands
5,It was a paper work surended by Japanese exporter to freight company in Japan
6,7,8,
Its a lot of another questions to be ask.
I think that You are even worried if its anything on wharf .If Your car even arrived .
Depens ,if You did not paid for car dont worried and get car somwhere else.If You paid and depend how much ,its up to You get money back soon as possible or You have to wait and keep playing game up to end.
Its look strange to me ,but not a suprise for me.I have had similar problems 5 weeks on wharf 1070$.And I have other car allready from 18 of october still on wharf/5000$ prob.for storage only/.I did not paid for storage and I will not pay for second one.
Its easy to hapend, if importers have finance problem in Japan .They are behind with payments and Jap . selers dont released papers, and keept them.Or send cars on purpose and they know that he must pay in Australia for storage.
Sometimes send cars before import approval is isued and ,then You just must be quiet and wait ,otherwise You can lost car ,or dont get car off a boat and let the car travel on boat around again and make time.
So ask f,f that You want to see import approval,invoice japaneese one.He must have one.Without invoice You can not ask for approval.Dee -reg paper You dont need if car is 1989 or older.Ask him for arrival notice from freight company.He must have it as car is allready in port.
Or brake his hand , its working much quicker.
Compl. car is can be done in one day.But You can do any time.Cost depends on car and Who is doing.15 y old You can do it by self,/except bars in doors/ and call engeenier to sign.