MV Titiroa Arrives at Lake Manapouri

The MV Titiroa was lifted into the water at Lake Manapouri yesterday and will be ready to take passengers across Lake Manapouri early in the New Year.

Real Journeys General Manager of Engineering, Brian Humphrey admitted he had been nervous about launching the 55 tonne vessel without established launching facilities: “It was as difficult as I thought it would be, but it went pretty much as we planned.”

Real Journeys engineering teams from Bluff and Te Anau were involved in the launch which took place south of Manapouri near the Mararoa Weir.

Two large cranes were used to lift the rear of the vessel into the water. Once two thirds of the vessel was floating the cranes picked up the bow and lifted it in. “The toughest part was making sure it wasn’t going to disturb either the river bank or any of the river’s inhabitants. We made sure there was no machinery in the river at any time, and the boat was lifted cleanly into the water,” says Brian.

The launch followed a ten and a half hour journey by road from Bluff and two-day sea journey from Wanganui.

About the MV Titiroa

• Carries up to 138 passengers
• Weighs around 55 tonnes
• Almost 24 metres in length, 7.5 metres wide
• Built by Q-West boat builders in Wanganui
• Largest vessel on Lake Manapouri
• Took 15 months to build
• Will take passengers across Lake Manapouri on the first stage of their journey through Fiordland National Park to Doubtful Sound
• Wharves at both ends of Lake Manapouri upgraded to cater for larger vessel
• Official launch will take place in February

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