If I run Xcode's ARKit project template, I can move around the default ship as expected.
I have tried importing some dae models that I have exported from Blender, switching the ship to the new item but keeping the code the same. They always show in view but position in front the camera. If I try to move around the model it sticks infront of the camera and doesn't stay in the same virtual space.
I have also tried importing a dae from another tutorial and that works as expected.
Does anything need setting when exporting a 3d model as a Collada dae file to make sure it will anchor to a position in ARKit?
When importing 3D-models for ARKit make sure to check:
Try to import the file in the SceneKit editor in Xcode and check if it gets imported correctly.