Heavy-lift vessel brings new dredge

Specialist heavy-lift vessel Fairpartner has arrived at Port Chalmers, carrying in its hold Port Otago's new $8 million backhoe dredge, Takutai, from France.

The 143m Fairpartner left France more than three weeks ago and arrived at the Dunedin port yesterday.

The 650-tonne Takutai, which will replace the 100-year-old Vulcan, was lifted from the hold about noon today using Fairpartner's on-board cranes.

Port Otago's container cranes have a maximum lift of about 55 tonnes.