Mystery eight-tonne anchor................

[Bernzfotos]

This barnacle-coated anchor, thought to have been lost overboard from an Orlando-class battle cruiser in the 1890s, was slowly winched out of eight metres of water on Sunday near Taranaki St Wharf.

It was raised by the floating crane Hikitia so an aluminium surround could be attached to it in an effort to prevent further corrosion. It was later returned to the seabed.

It had not been linked to a specific ship, but is speculated that it may have been inadvertently dropped from an Orlando class battle cruiser in the late 1890s.

"The very unusual anchor is of the style made for the very large naval ships of [that time]."

The anchor was first raised from the seabed in 1995 north of Aotea Quay, after the Rangitata dropped anchor during a berthing manoeuvre and snagged it.

When the mystery chain was first raised by the Hikitia in 1995, crew were surprised to discover the large anchor attached to it.

The Hikitia returned the anchor to the seabed at the Taranaki St Wharf till a plan could be developed for its conservation and display.

The 4.6-metre anchor was first raised for inspection in 2000. Since then it has been submerged.

[lputman]

How cool is that and thank you for posting the history!

[JustJim]

What a wonderful old Admiralty Pattern anchor! Thanks for sharing and telling us of the history.

[Mpow]

Wow, that is a big anchor! Thanks for the history lesson.

[Fred flyfisher]

That's an interesting relic of earlier sea faring days. Great captures Bernz.

[Bernzfotos]

Originally Posted by lputman

How cool is that and thank you for posting the history!

Thanks Lori

Originally Posted by JustJim

What a wonderful old Admiralty Pattern anchor! Thanks for sharing and telling us of the history.

thanks Jim

Originally Posted by Mpow

Wow, that is a big anchor! Thanks for the history lesson.

Thanks Mary Anne

Originally Posted by Fred flyfisher

That's an interesting relic of earlier sea faring days. Great captures Bernz.

Thanks Fred

[Hayward Taylor]

Hi Bernie --- that's a good sized anchor .... and what a history behind it .... grea find

[jack russell]

I'll be watching Nat'l Geo on the tube waiting for the special .. and i'll tell everybody I saw and knew of this before they thought of shooting it .. Thx Bernz!

[Weebonilass]

Wow, what an awesome opportunity to be there to see it. I love history... one nice thing about St Louis, so many old buildings still exist here.

[Coasteraddict]

That is great that you got to see that and get such nice shots of it.