The Hikitia floating crane is a Wellington icon and thought to be the world’s oldest ship of this type still working.
 
Berthed at Taranaki Street Wharf, she is Wellington’s oldest ship by a nautical mile. Built in Scotland in 1926 she sailed from Glasgow on 29 September and arrived in Wellington on 21 December – some 84 days which is considered a record distance for a ship of this type (with the crane jib up!)
 
She began work almost immediately and for 63 years was taken for granted and unheralded – doing construction work, helping with the demolition of the Wahine and much more.
 
In 1990 she was purchased for preservation by two couples. Much hard work followed by the owners and many volunteers and they were rewarded in July 1992 when the ship was approved to lift 80 tonnes after succeeding in an 88 tonne lift – not bad for a then 66-year-old ship.  She recently did a 100-tonne test lift to maintain her licence, which is as good as she did in 1926 when she first arrived in Wellington. 

Since then Hikitia has performed some 300 lifts including linkspans for roll on-roll off ships and three separate fleets of BT Challenge yachts – a total now of 80 lifts; how else can a 40 tonne yacht be taken from the water in Wellington?
 
She has lifted harbour ferries, acted as a breakwater, salvaged sunken boats and even a Catalina flying boat, been a platform for firework displays and has recently relocated a magnificent 7 tonne anchor for eventual conservation.
 
After 75 plus years of service to Wellington, Hikitia is now gradually acquiring new paint and a new future. New volunteers are always needed to ensure that this Wellington gem remains to lift future BT Challenge fleets.
 
Contact:
Malcolm McGregor
106 Epuni Street
Lower Hutt 5011

Ph:    (04) 566 0278
Fax:  (04) 977 5660
Email: malcolm.mcgregor@paradise.net.nz
Website:  http://www.maanz.wellington.net.nz/hikitia/index.htm