The harbour is much quieter than it used to be, traditional shipping being almost extinct, the scene is largely container ships and roro vessels. The need for heavy lifts is usually catered for by special gear on the ships themselves if not on shore. 

Wellington had a craneship -the Hikitia- a sister ship of the Rapaki which used to be in Lyttleton but is now in Auckland at the NZ Maritime Museum. She had a long useful life but was only recently put up for sale. Rather than see her scrapped, a local group bought her and she is available when needed. 

In 1984, the original coal fired scotch boiler was removed and replaced by two package boilers with oil firing. Their steam production is less than the original leaving her a little breathless apparently. 

Like Rapaki, she has two compounds, single cylinder engines running the generator and condenser circulating pump. There is a Weirs airpump, double feed pump and domestic services pump. 

On deck, there is a windlass, capstan and the steering engine in the wheelhouse on deck. 

In the cranehouse, the steam comes in through the centreline and runs two twin cylinder engines which between them handle luffing of the jib, slewing, raising and lowering the hook and moving two heavy counterbalancing weights alongside the cranehouse. The crew worked a series of dog clutches to engage the gearing for the various actions: Labour and crew intensive! There was a control house in a prime spot well above where the engines were worked from. 

In her prime she could lift 80 tons.