24 May 2007

Wellington's oldest ship, the floating crane Hikitia, will again prove age is no barrier to hard work when it lifts two 37-tones, 12 metre high contrete towers into place on the refurbished Tug Wharf, north of Queens Wharf on Saturday 26 May.

The towers are key elements in the innovative new bridge that will form part of the Tug Wharf.  These enhancements are part of the $11 million public space development currently underway in Wellington waterfront's Kumutoto precinct.

"Despite its 81 years, the venerable vessel, thought to be the oldest working crane of its type in the world, is still the best way to lift large, heavy items from the sea to land and vice versa," says Wellington Waterfront Ltd project manager Andrew Howie.

Owned by the Maritime Heritage Trust of Wellington, the Hikitia is maintained by a crew of volunteers who keep the old girl operational and maintained to meet today's safety standards.

The Tug Wharf will reopen to the public in July with construction of the whole area completed by the end of 2007.