Laird Bros ., in Birkenhead, shown in a contemporary engraving (leji) , built the Yavari , the Confederate raider Alabama and other steamers for the Confederate Na vy.
Yavari initially carried auxiliary sail including a longish bowsprit-customary precautions in the steamers of the day . Yavari was lengthened 50fr and steam ed confidently into the twentieth century as a miniature of the British tramps that were carrying most o{ rh e 1vorld's cargo-bur this one was doing it at airliner altitudes '
Her Bollinder diesel engines , installed in 1913, are valuable and fascinatin g museum pieces today .
wo rk until 1975 when she was taken over by the Peruvi an Navy and rechri stened BAP Chucuito . I first boarded the ship in 1982 and was immedi ately determined to examine the feas ibility of restoring her as a working maritime monument. In 1985 I commissioned a Lloyds Conditi on Survey wh ich reported Yavari as being in serv iceab le condition. Owing to the high altitude and fresh water, there has been minimal ox idi zation and the rivetted iron hull has withstood the test of time very well. Much encouraged by the report and having sought additional technical adv ice, I then put a pro posal to the Peruvian government , and with a word from the President , Alan Garcia , the navy (whi ch had take n over the vesse l in the 1970s) was urged to make her avai labl e fo r restorati on as a first cl ass touring ship on the Lake. The excellent team of consu ltant naval architects and marine engineers who are advi sing me recommend that we base the restoration on the Genera l Arrangement of 191 3, the oldest plan currentl y ex tant. We shall need to reinstate the second storey of the bridge to all ow fo r the captain 's cabin and ex tend the whole of the main deck 20ft fo rward to where it was before. This will provide a very comfortable sa loon with large picture windows. Below , the forward hold (which is 47ft x 17ft) will convert nicely into galley, bar and the main dining sa loon fo r the ship ' s complement of ninety passengers , with ex hibition and video fac ilities for film s and photograph s on the va ried wildlife of the Lake . We also plan to restore the Bollinder engine . It rea ll y is a co ll ector' s item though not , unfortunately , a cost effective one. It wi ll be restored as a working model and a modern diesel will be in stalled for propulsion. The sa me is true for the Petter generator . The work will take pl ace on the shipway just outside the town of Puno . It is planned to offer thi s as an opportunity for a team of yo ung apprentice shipwrights from the west to test their new ly acquired sk ill s in these unfamili ar surroundings and to li ve and work alongs ide the locall y contracted workforce. In add ition , the whole restoration is to be telev ised for global distribution , giving the whole effort worldwide exposure. Now such a project requires much time, ex pert know ledge and , of course , good old-fashioned cash. To date , I have personall y financed the enterprise. I am now confident that , from a structural point of view , we ca n achieve the finished artic le, and I am launching the second stage of the project. The project has been endorsed by the Peruvian government and local Peru vian touri st in stitutions have ass ured me of their finan cial investment. I am seeking the balance from personal and corporate pockets both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. Immediately, the Yava ri Project is a rescue operation to save a unique maritime monument. Ultimately, though, it is designed to be a seriou s commercial exercise. There is onl y one highest navi gabl e lake in the world and on ly one ship of such character and age upon it. There is no comparable craft in which to tour the Lake and she wi ll offer every comfort to touri sts wishing to visit the fl oating islands and Taquil e Island , and every facility , like infl atable dinghies, for small spec iali st groups of naturali sts and particularly bird watchers. .t The Yavari Project, which has been endorsed by the World Ship Trust and the NM HS, is actively seeking support from the commun ity at.large. Any inquiries regarding this projector contributions to it- should be addressed to: The Yavari Projecl- NMHS, 132 Maple Stree/, Cro/On-on-Hudson, NY 10520.
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SEA HISTORY , AUTUMN 1986