The slipway at Fleetwood dock has been the site for repairs and other work on countless trawlers and other vessels over the years.
But with the decline of the trawling industry the facility is being demolished and could be gone by the end of week.
However, the powerful winch which hauled vessels out of the water up the slipway could continue to work on in the Isle of Bute.
A private operator there has expressed interest in the machinery and now demolition company L and W Wilson of Kendal is seeing if the machinery can be transported successfully.
Company boss Alan Wilson said: "We are trying to send it to the Isle of Bute but the buyers are being told they won't be allowed because of the possible damage.
"I can't see why that is but we are looking into it.
"We have salvaged the coil of rope and that is going to the Isle of Bute because it's serviceable, but now we will have to see if we can get the whole thing to the island.
Exported
"It's very heavy so it will be some job."
What many locals will be asking is whether the winch was made by the long-defunct Fleetwood company Robertson's which once operated on Dock Street and exported winches all over the world.
But Mr Wilson said: "We've had a look at it and we can't see anything that tells us where it was made."
The last job done on the slipway was two months ago to a survey vessel belonging to Associated British Ports
Now the slipway is being decommissioned, Fleetwood's small remaining fishing fleet must go to other ports for repairs.
Dock owner Associated British Ports says it would not be worth repairing the ageing metal structure.
Engineering resource manager Roger Cowling said: "It's uneconomical to continue to operate the slipway, in terms of the reduced revenue and of lack of vessels and also because it needs major capital investment and there just isn't the revenue to do it."