The small seaside village virtually came to a stop as one of the town's landmarks, a 20 metre catamaran, which has sat on a block of land off Greens Road since the early 2000s, finally made its way to the water and was launched.

The 20m long (just over 60 feet) cat, with an eight metre beam had been the brainchild and labour of love of the late Ray Bloomfield, who along with his wife Bev founded the innovative mining equipment business, Rosebery Spray in the village in October 1978.

The business expanded, selling equipment all over the world, with the couple selling in 2004 to retire.

Ray also had a passion for boats and had previously constructed a couple of vessels.

Again he constructed everything on this boat.

The hull came out of the boatshed on the couple's property in 2000 and he set to work on the rest of the craft.

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In 2005 it was almost complete, the fibreglassing was finished, engines installed, galley and kitchens organised.

But Ray fell ill and couldn't finish his dream - he passed away nine years ago with his cat almost complete. It sat in its location behind the couple's original factory at the Point.

Bev decided to sell the block of land, along with the factory and the boat in 2016.

She had a couple of nibbles but nothing concrete but got the great news in July last year the property had been sold and settled, while she was watching the Football World Cup semi-finals and finals in Russia.

It was purchased by a South Coast syndicate who plan to subdivide the land into nine blocks.

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A couple of the members are also keen sailors and they decided to get the boat into the water.

From there it was a huge logistical exercise.

Firstly the boat had to be moved from its home just off Greens Road.

A 400 tonne crane from Boom Logistics at Port Kembla was needed to lift the 35 tonne boat from its stays onto a low loader.

Enter Buddy Crowe, of AB Crowe Heavy Haulage, from Mittagong.

The power had to be turned off to part of the village as numerous electrical services had to be moved to allow the nine metre high vessel to be transported to the water.

The tide also had to be right.

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After months of planning, everything came together on Tuesday.

Numerous Endeavour Energy crews converged on the village early Tuesday morning, with around electrical 20 services having to be disconnected before the journey could begin.

Despite showery weather a large crowd of locals and spectators from further afield gathered to witness the historic journey.

Around 9.20am Buddy Crowe started what was set to be a nerve wracking journey to water.

The truck slowly moved off the property and into Greens Road, before negotiating the turn onto Greenwell Point Road.

With guides walking in place around the truck guiding the precious load it was steered into West Street.

It was originally thought, due to the length of the boat the truck would have to back into West Street and then reverse the entire length of the street to allow the crane maximum capacity to lift the vessel, but a quick remeasure meant it was able to travel forward.

With a huge crowd tagging along behind, in just over 16 minutes the giant arrived at the West Street Shaws Creek Spillway to be greeted by hundreds of people.

Part one of the operation was complete.

Then it was over to the talented crane driver from Boom Logistics, Simon Smith.

It was heart in your mouth stuff as he slowly lifted the vessel, negotiated and guided between and over trees before gently lowering into Shaws Creek to the relief of the new owners and the cheers of those assembled.

Nearby backyards and adjacent wharves were packed with onlookers.

Greenwell Point Public School students were even present to witness the occasion, as they had the day before when the boat had been loaded onto the truck.

Part two of the operation complete.

From there the Innes' fishing family used one of their trawlers and runabouts to tow the vessel to the main wharf at Greenwell Point where it was secured, quickly becoming a must see attraction.

Part three of the operation comnplete.

Watching, proudly onboard the trawler, was former owner Bev Bloomfield.

"This is a special day," she said.

"It's just wonderful to see it in the water. A day I wasn't sure I was going to see. It looks good.

"I feel fantastic. I'm sure Raymond would be watching and telling everyone what to do and how to get it in the water.

"It all went smoothly. The crane driver was superb, staff excellent, I was really happy and proud with them, they did a great job.

"We were so close. Ray had put the engines [which actually fired up earlier in the week], we'd fiberglassed the top bridge it was wonderful.

"I moved onto the interiors - the kitchen and galley were done - the teak inside is magnificent.

"It has a special fridge just for grog and another big fridge just for food.

"We had planned to take it to Hamilton Island for six months of the year and then come back to Greenwell Point.

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"But it wasn't to be.

"To see it in the water I'm so excited, overwhelmed. I'm just pleased whoever gets it will be very happy with it."

For the record the boat boasts has four bedrooms with ensuites, a separate main shower and toilet, a spacious living area and superb galley, kitchen and bar area.

The boat will undergo some work locally before being transported south to Broadwater Engineering at Pambula to be completely finished.

Although not wanting to be identified, syndicate members said it was a "relief" to finally have it in the water.

"It's good to have it safely in the water and secure."

As for a name, that's still undecided at this stage.

"We're not sure," the spokesperson said.

"The land is going to be subdivided into nine blocks and we always joked this was Block 10.

"We don't know what the future holds. We want to get it to Pambula and get it finished and we'll assess our options from there."

For contractors Buddy Crowe and Steve Russo the operation was "just another day in the office".

"We transport big loads all the time," Mr Crowe said.

"We've never done anything like this though. We usually do big machinery and the like.

"It's 20 metres long, eight metres wide and nine metres high. It weighs 35 tonne - it's a challenge.

"It's certainly created a lot of interest. We even had the school kids come down to watch it being loaded."

Mr Russo said the company invariably lifts things like bridge beams and wind turbines with its cranes.

"This is a different exercise with a boat," he said.

"This is high and wide. We've worked together in the past so we know what we are doing."

It has taken three months of planning.

"We have to organise services, things like Endeavor Energy, Telstra, etc there are so many regulations involved now days," Mr Russo said.

Greenwell Point locals Ron and Carol Davies and Sue Greenwood nabbed one of the best seats in the house to see the boat begin its journey on the corner of Pyree Street and Greenwell Point Road.

"This is a big deal," Mr Davies said.

"I came down and 6.30am to see what was going on and then nipped home to have some breakfast to get back here in time.

"It's pretty spectacular."

Sue Greenwood has lived at the Point for 22 years and her mother-in-law for 20 years prior to that.

"It's [the boat] just always been there," she said.

"It's part of the town."

Fellow longtime resident Greg Banyer said it was "one of the biggest things to happen in Greenwell Point".

"Probably as big as the last time one of Ray's boats was launched," he said.

"I remember that well.

"It will be good to see it in the water."