Steam Tug William C Daldy

Lottery Grant Preserves Historic Floating Crane Hikitia

Posted in Steam Crane Hikitia on October 8th, 2009 by Webmaster

Wellington’s historic floating steam crane, Hikitia, will return to its former glory with support from the NZ Lottery Grants Board.

Hikitia

The 82-year-old heavy-lifting crane, which is believed to be the oldest of its kind in the world still operating, is having a complete overhaul by some dedicated volunteers – with help from a $200,000 grant from the NZ Lottery Grants Board.

Built in Glasgow in 1926, Hikitia steamed her way to New Zealand at 7.5 knots.

She is capable of lifting in excess of 80 tonnes, and was utilised in Wellington harbour until 1990, when the port company decided she could retire gracefully.

She was bought by a couple, who restored her briefly before passing on ownership to the Maritime Heritage Trust.

Trust spokesperson Malcolm McGregor says it costs around $40,000 a year to run Hikitia, and although she has been “marginally self-sufficient” recently, most of their funding comes from local authorities and grants.

Hikitia’s sister ship, the Rapaki – built from the same set of drawings – is based in Auckland at the national maritime museum but is not a working ship, says Malcolm. The Rapaki is a museum ship, with displays and is often used as a classroom resource however, she could be returned to service with a little effort.

Europe has many “museum ships” and though some still work it’s “very rare”, which validates the effort put into Hikitia, he says.

“It’s unique in the world … it’s distinct … and provides a boost to the waterfront – and it works.”

Source: New Zealand Lotteries Commission

Click Here for more information on Hikitia

Foredeck Restoration 2009

Posted in Foredeck Restoration 2009, Foredeck restoration 2009 on July 15th, 2009 by Webmaster

Below is a pictorial essay of W C Daldy receiving major restoration of the foredeck area above the focsle.

this restoration work would not have been possible without the generous assistance of the following sponsors:

Lotteries-logoasb

Tags: , , ,

Year 2000 Major Overhaul

Posted in Preservation on May 1st, 2009 by Webmaster

Thanks to a generous grant from the New Zealand Lotteries Commission in 2000, major hull plating underneath the boilers was carried out.


Marine Superintendent Alex Franklin inspecting progress
© Godfrey Down


Bunker with new ribs
© Godfrey Down


first cut of the old tired plates
© Godfrey Down


half polished prop
© Godfrey Down


New bilge plates
© Godfrey Down


New bunkersno more rust
© Godfrey Down


nzherald2000
© Godfrey Down


plating
© Godfrey Down


plating bunkers
© Godfrey Down


more gasbottles to cut out rust
© Godfrey Down


more gasbottles to cut out rust
© Godfrey Down


Plating and rib renewal
© Godfrey Down


View from astern
© Godfrey Down


Propshaft removal and seal renewal
© Godfrey Down


props polished
© Godfrey Down


Prop and cowling removed
© Godfrey Down

2002 Major Overhaul

Posted in Preservation on May 1st, 2009 by Webmaster

Thanks to a generous grant from the ASB Bank Trust in 2002, major hull plating on the port side of the engine room was carried out. A new seawater intake for the condenser was fabricated and the bilge and generalpurpose/fire pump were overhauled. General hull cleaning and painting were also carried out.


View of dented bow to be repaired. That darn wharf just keeps getting in the way! Hull of New Lyttelton Tug Blackadder in background during fabrication!
© Courtney Edmonds


Wasted anodes out perhaps not wasted enough.
© Courtney Edmonds


Starboard mid section after waterblasting. Hull of New Lyttelton Tug Blackadder in background during fabrication!
© Courtney Edmonds


Propeller view MV Atlantic Trader (now scrapped) in background.
© Courtney Edmonds


Propeller view.
© Courtney Edmonds


Port rubbing strake section that was replaced with a large piece of macrocarpa.
© Courtney Edmonds


An anode that has done its job well.
© Courtney Edmonds


New hull plates and ribs for th engine room.
© Courtney Edmonds


New bow section below bull ring cut and ready for new section to be welded.
© Courtney Edmonds


Cut Rotten Hull behind service pump and seawater intake for condenser.
© Courtney Edmonds


New plates and seawater intake primed.
© Courtney Edmonds


Propeller coated with clear antifoul product.
© Courtney Edmonds


Stern section showing new anodes in place.
© Courtney Edmonds

Funnel

Posted in Preservation, Tour the W C Daldy on April 30th, 2009 by Webmaster

The funnel received a major overhaul in 2002. The outer skin was patched and rivet tops were welded on to make it look as original as possible. It received a complete stand blast and a fresh coat of paint. The internal flue will eventually need to be replaced as it is in poor condition! A funnel cap which works in a butterfly fashion can be opened and closed internally from on top of the boilers, using a lever and pulley arrangement.

The Funnel 2002
© Courtney Edmonds

William C. Daldy funnel with original Auckland Harbour board shield
© NZMM – Photo collection 1994 146.1 [8702]

Funnel shield (top left – Red Cross – top right – Blue waves of the Waitemata harbour – bottom left – Anchor Auckland Harbour Board Symbol – bottom right – The Taniwha – a mythical Maori creature that breathes fire!)
© Godfrey Down

funnel and replacement mast and derrick
© Godfrey Down



Preservation

Posted in Preservation on April 28th, 2009 by Webmaster

The following images are in chronological order from when the tug was first taken over by the preservation Society to the present day. Dial-up users may find this page a little slow to load as it contains many images.
Pass your mouse pointer over the image for a desciption!

src="http://tripleexpansion.com/preservation/18.jpg" title="Daldy departing Devonport Summer 2001">


Steam Tug Lyttelton

Posted in General News, Running Mates, Steam Tug Lyttelton on May 2nd, 2008 by Webmaster

The Tug ‘Lyttelton’ Preservation Society is a non-profit organisation whose aims and objects are to restore and maintain the vintage steam Tug ‘Lyttelton’ in working order, to promote public interest in the vessel and make it possible for passengers to travel on it by means of public cruises and chartered voyages.
The tug Lyttelton and her engines were built in Scotland in 1907 by Fergusson brothers Ltd. of Glasgow, and was sailed out to Lyttelton through the Suez canal which had only recently been opened.

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

Steam Tug Lyttelton built 1907 at her berth at Lyttelton harbour in Christchurch New Zealand

You can visit the official Lyttelton website by Clicking Here!