Blenheim surveyor Phillip Carey undertook survey work on the historic launch Elsie Evans at Portobello yesterday, as the dream of restoring her former role as an Otago Harbour ferry moved closer to reality.
The 12.9m vessel was built in Auckland 116 years ago as a pilot launch, and is the oldest surviving such launch in the country.
In 1901, the vessel became the first pilot boat owned by the Timaru Harbour Board. It later plied Otago Harbour in various roles, including as a ferry, from 1928 to 1954.
Otago Harbour Ferry Inc chairman Shem Sutherland said the survey work, including a tilting test conducted at the Portobello jetty, went ''brilliantly'', and he remained optimistic a suitable lessee would be found to operate the ferry.
Mr Sutherland announced in February the non-profit incorporated society was seeking a lessee and began advertising the lease on social media.
He said yesterday there had been some initial expressions of interest in the vessel, and he remained optimistic a suitable lessee would be found.
But he was mindful the ferry had been ''away for 60 years'' from the harbour and needed more visibility to attract a lessee.
The society had decided it was ''prudent'' for the vessel to be fully surveyed, and able to operate on the harbour, so it would be more of a ''going concern'', with operating details clarified, such as the number of passengers it could carry.
The society was debt-free and could initially operate the ferry on a weekend charter basis, or to support specific events such as festivals, to lift the vessel's visibility and make the possibilities more apparent to a lessee, he said.
