ONE OF A KIND: The Hikitia is the only working floating steam heavy lift crane in the world, and is still working hard.
Hikitia, the only working, floating, steam, heavy lift crane left operating in the world is still hard at work on Wellington's waterfront.
It was pictured here during a lift operation today dismantling a crane at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on the Willis Bond/LT McGuinness new apartment block project in Oriental Bay.
The old floating crane has made 18 lifts to dismantle the wharf based construction project crane since Monday.
Peter McGuinness, of LT McGuinness, said it was great to see the old crane still at work 87 years after she steamed to Wellington via the Panama Canal in just 82 days.
He said a sea based crane had to be used to dismantle the building site's crane as there was no room for a Titan Crane to be placed in position to do the job from the side of the wharf.
Wellington Maritime Heritage Trust spokesman Malcolm McGregor is one of those dedicated to the task of preserving Hikitia.
It costs about $50,000 a year to run Hikitia, including insurance premiums and boiler survey fees. And while Hikitia can still generate some income, most comes from local authorities and charitable grants.
As a working crane she can "do lifts" to offset the cost but this is the first since November 2011.
"That's why a job like this is very helpful for us to preserve Hikitia," Mr McGregor said.
The Wellington Maritime Heritage Trust took over Hikitia in March 2006 from John and Joy Ackrill and Bob and Mary Box who bought her in April 1990.
Hikitia came to Wellington from Scotland in December 1926. She steamed over in 82 days at 7.5 knots with 14 crew members, and with the crane jib up.
"This was the longest delivery voyage of a ship of its type ever," Mr McGregor said.
Built by Fleming and Ferguson of Paisley, Scotland she measures 48.58 metres in length, has a 15.88 metre beam and 3.44m depth.
Contact Tim Donoghue
General reporter
Email: tim.donoghue@dompost.co.nz
Twitter: @timdonoghuenz
- © Fairfax NZ News
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