Lowering the engine from Awarua into the Bluff Maritime Museum required the roof of the building to be removed.
The engine is now run by electricity and provides afascinating display of its internal workings.
Awarua was delivered in 1932, and when she arrived in Bluff was the most powerful tug in New Zealand, with two steam reciprocating engines that developed 1200 horsepower.
Even after 40 years of hard work at Bluff, Awarua had life left in her.
Upon retirement she was sold for use as a fishing and deer recovery base in Fiordland.
Awarua was finally scuttled in Foveaux Strait in 1989, but not before one of her engines wassaved and taken to the maritime museum.
‘‘We were very lucky to have this put into the museum and set uplike a properengine room,’’ Bluff Maritime Museum curator Trish Birch said.
‘‘It took some big cranes to lower it in.
‘‘People love it because of how old it is, and because it’s in working condition.’’
