Contractors, engineers and one large crane were on site at the Tuapeka Mouth ferry landing to manoeuvre the ferry, better known as "the punt" out of the Clutha River and on to dry land. Marine safety inspectors will check the vessel for damage after it was pulled roughly out of the rising river recently.
The ferry has been off limits for more than seven weeks to vehicles and others who use it for river crossings and the Clutha District Council, which administers the ferry, is unsure when it will reopen.
Contractors gathered at the riverbank as crane operators tried different ways to lift the ferry from the water.
The operation to lift the ferry began about 10am but was briefly aborted about 12.30pm after a second attempt failed. A standby crane, being used at the Fonterra Stirling site, was called in to help finish the job and the ferry placed on a specially-made mound of dirt nearby.
The safety inspection is due to be conducted today but exactly when the ferry will be ready for use again is unclear.
