Photo: Jaime Leon In 1861, the government of President Ramón Castilla shipyards commissioned two British boats to Lake Titicaca. These were the Yavari and Yapura, who arrived at the port of Arica in 1862.
From there, they traveled to Tacna 2.766 parts by rail and from there to Puno, on the backs of beasts. Travel quite a feat. After overcome several obstacles, the British engineers and local workers, the Yavari rebuilt gradually. Its launching was only on December 25, 1870 at 3 pm. The Yapura (renamed years later by the Navy as BAP "Puno") followed in 1873.
After 100 years of faithful service, the Yavari was discharged. Having been rescued in 1987, began a restoration process that included the recovery, restoration and placement in their respective place of most of the original parts (like wheel spokes, telegraph control, hood, etc.). Once painted the iron hull according to the original colors of the ship and equipped for entertaining on board, the oldest iron boat of America opened its doors as the First Ship Museum in Peru reported at the National Institute of Culture in 1998.
interesting data point refer to the restoration of Bolinder engine. This Swedish-built engine, installed in 1914, was decommissioned in its entirety. The crankshaft and other parts were ingeniously repaired and the engine was completely restored. Thus the Yavari set sail for sea trials after 40 years of immobility. The engine is currently the largest and oldest of its kind in operation in the world.
The crew of the MV "Yavari" was responsible for the repair of the boiler (made in Sweden), steam winch bed only shipyard in Puno (acquired by PeruRail). These pieces, made in the nineteenth century, are wonderful relics of mechanical engineering. Once on the ground is sand the hull and then proceeded to inspect, as well as propulsion and steering systems. On January 27, 2001 was launched successfully at the restored lake "Yavari".
Photo: Cecilia Larrabure
ship currently operates as a museum ship welcomes visitors of various nationalities. The donations left by these people contribute to the maintenance of the boat and make it possible for Yavarí look under optimal conditions of presentation.
Vapor Coya late nineteenth century
For its part, the history of steam "Coya" began in 1892 when the Peruvian Corporation directs the manufacture in Scotland, for freight and passenger service on Lake Titicaca, as the Yavari and Yapura were insufficient for the flourishing trade that developed in the Titicaca basin.
Thousands of parts were shipped to the port of Mollendo in the English ship "Gulf of Florida." Puno was reconstituted under the supervision of English engineer John Wilson and released on March 4 of 1893 with a grand party held at the level of Puno as throughout Peru.
The "Coya" continued working until 1986, first to the Peruvian Corporation and then for the railway company in Peru. After sailing for nearly a century, and after the big rise in water level of Lake Titicaca as a result of heavy rains in 1986, the ship was sadly abandoned in the yard Huajje (Puno). Their future looked darker every day, every day unscrupulous people were disarmed the treasure piece by piece and wanted more opportunities to sell as scrap metal for one or the other cast.
In October 2001 sold Coya in Lima, as a mere scrap to be cut and sent to the foundry. Fortunately, the businessman Don Juan Barriga Arequipa, loving their country and sensitive to their cultural heritage and history, learning of the presence of workers ready to begin the dismantling of the ship traveled to Puno on the same day and, without hesitation, bought what few still considered a treasure.
The Coya Huajje abandoned, Puno, before restoration.
More than a year of hard work with a team of workers from all specialties restructured, rebuilt, readornó, restored, refurbished and its old building to make this ship forgotten all the new jewel of the lake landscape. Although the steam is not available for navigation, its restoration has served to restore its original excellence and reuse it as a restaurant now located way to the Libertador hotel.
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