Mnz News

The IMRF, the charity supporting maritime SAR service globally, and McMurdo, a company in search and rescue and maritime domain awareness solutions, announced a partnership aiming at several key search and rescue (SAR) initiatives to be launched at next week’s World Maritime Rescue Congress in Bremerhaven, Germany. Working together the IMRF and McMurdo will target some of the key challenges facing maritime SAR globally including rescue team training, the safety of artisanal fishermen and the emerging requirements of SAR services managing the unsafe mixed migration by sea.

The basic nature of maritime casualties, salvage and wreck removal has evolved rapidly over the last few years. Ships and offshore constructions have become more technologically elaborate, and in many cases simply bigger and more complex than ever. There isincreasing concern about whether current international legislation and industry practices cancope with the issues. Many are skeptical regarding the fundamental format of casualty contracts, questioning if they are justchronically outdated. Nick Haslam, Shipping Director of leading international maritime consultants, the LOC Group, is convinced initiatives to improve casualty management and create a better understanding between all parties must be heard, debated and positively supported.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said it was monitoring the situation of a small oil spill at the Raroa platform, about 70 kilometres off the Taranaki coastline. The operator, the New Zealand branch of international oil company OMV, says about 250 litres of oil was spilt on Friday when a pipe split during a routine transfer operation. It says it sincerely regrets an oil spill that is being investigated by MNZ. A flight with MNZ observers on board this morning couldn't find any signs of an oil sheen following the spill. Peter Zeilinger, managing director of OMV New Zealand Ltd, which runs the operation, said a small spill occurred when oil from the Raroa was being transferred to the tanker Nectar.

An industry forum aimed at producing a practical response to the current crises in maritime casualty management was officially launched in Singapore today. LOC Group (LOC), the leading international maritime consultancy group, is set to host the forum, the first of its kind, as a cornerstone gathering during the forthcoming Singapore Maritime Week (April 20-24, 2015). Singapore is the perfect location for this initiative being one of the busiest hubs for shipping and a centre of excellence for the management of casualties in the region. The two day meet is intended for global industry leaders from all parties involved in marine casualties. It takes place on Thursday and Friday April 23 and 24 at Singapore’s prestigious Fullerton Hotel.

A joint operation by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and the New Zealand Defence Force – Operation Moana – has seen 16 fishing vessels operating off the west coast of the South Island boarded and inspected to ensure they are meeting environmental and safety standards. Two Korean-flagged foreign charter fishing vessels (FCFVs) – Gom 379 and Ser Este 700 – were sent back to port to rectify non-compliances related to marine protection rules. In addition to environmental protection issues, inspection of the vessels covered certification and life-saving appliances, emergency preparedness and working practices. Operation Moana involved assets provided by the NZ Defence Force – the HMNZS Wellington and the RNZAF Orion – enabling MNZ to target vessels while they were operating at sea.

McMurdo Group’s Techno-Sciences Inc. says it has been chosen by the Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) to deploy their next-generation satellite-aided search and rescue systems. The MEOSAR (Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue) installations will be the first such systems in Asia Pacific and will significantly reduce the time between a distress beacon activation and the resulting emergency alert notification from hours to minutes, greatly accelerating the rescue coordination effort by SAR personnel. As a result, survivors will be found faster and more lives will be saved. “Australia and New Zealand have two of the largest SAR regions in the world…

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) informs that for the first time in 5 years it has a permanent presence in New Plymouth on the opening of a new office at Port Taranaki staffed by full-time maritime officer Michael Vredenburg. Opening the office, MNZ Director Keith Manch said the move reflected the significant role of the port and region in New Zealand’s maritime sector. The previous office closed in July 2009, following the retirement of the sole staff member. “Port Taranaki is at the centre of New Zealand’s offshore petroleum industry and is also a key import and export port,” he said. While based at Port Taranaki, new Maritime Officer Michael Vredenburg’s focus will be the wider Taranaki region…

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says it invites submissions on its draft updated New Zealand Marine Oil Spill Response Strategy 2014 (the draft Strategy). The draft Strategy, (available at http://bit.ly/1pe6p46) is based on the current version but substantially updated to include lessons learned nationally and internationally in recent years and follows discussion with regional councils, the community and iwi, and industry at a series of public held earlier this year. The safety agency points out that it is important to note that the strategy does not cover the permitting and approval process for oil and gas exploitation. Neither does it cover emergency response to other hazardous and noxious substances. These issues are “out-of-scope” of this strategy.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) informs it is welcoming Real Journeys’ iconic steamship TSS Earnslaw into the new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) - designed to improve operator and vessel safety. Built in 1912, The Earnslaw  is one of the few remaining commercial passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. “The Earnslaw is one of the tourism highlights of any trip to Queenstown. I’m delighted to welcome her into MOSS and it’s good to see Real Journeys showing its commitment to safety by being among the ‘first off the block’ in transitioning from SSM to MOSS,” says MNZ Director Keith Manch. MOSS replaces the old Safe Ship Management (SSM) system, in which an operator was required to engage a third party to develop a safety system for their vessels.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says it heralds the biggest change to New Zealand’s commercial shipping sector in 15 years by welcoming the first operator into its new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS). Sanford’s Tauranga in-shore fishing operation entered the MOSS system at a formal presentation in Tauranga. Sanford operates four vessels out of Tauranga and has developed a comprehensive safety system covering the entire operation, from emergency procedures to maintenance, crew training and vessel details. MOSS, which is designed to improve operator and vessel safety, replaces the Safe Ship Management (SSM) system. It requires operators to develop a safety system that covers not only their vessels, but their entire operation.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) announced it is undertaking a review of coastal navigation safety to identify risks and assess current and potential safety measures. MNZ Director Keith Manch said the review, which begins July 2014, is part of a focus on developing an intelligence-led, risk-focused approach to maritime safety. “In order to appropriately manage risks in the coastal environment we need an accurate and up-to-date picture of what those risks are,” he said. The first phase is expected to last around 12 months and will involve assessing the nature of risks around coastal navigation and how they are being managed. “We are taking an open-minded approach, so the first thing to do is establish what risks actually exist and what measures are in place to address them,” Manch said.

The master of the 177m Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Lake Triview has been fined $2000 (plus $130 court costs) after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to notify Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) that the vessel had grounded off New Plymouth after dragging its anchor on Saturday, 24 May, 2014. MNZ laid the charge under s31 of the Maritime Transport Act which requires incidents to be reported to MNZ as soon as practicable. MNZ was not notified of the grounding until 28 May. Rolando Valmeo Legaspi, 63, of the Philippines was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court today. MNZ Director Keith Manch said the sentence should send a strong message to those responsible for vessels operating around New Zealand.

Maritime New Zealand inform that the master of the 177m Singapore-flagged cargo vessel 'Lake Triview' has been fined $2000 (plus $130 court costs) after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to notify Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) that the vessel had grounded off New Plymouth after dragging its anchor. Rolando Valmeo Legaspi, 63, of the Philippines was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court, and MNZ Director Keith Manch said the sentence should send a strong message to those responsible for vessels operating around New Zealand. "This incident posed a potential threat to the 21 crew, and could have had a serious impact on the environment, and yet no effort was made for some days to notify MNZ.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) announced the official introduction of SeaCert – the new domestic certification framework for New Zealand seafarers. SeaCert sets out where seafarers can operate in local and international waters, and replaces the old Qualifications and Operational Limits (QOL) system. “SeaCert provides a new, simpler and competency-based domestic certificate framework as well as increased recognition of New Zealand certificates overseas, making it easier for New Zealand seafarers to work in other jurisdictions,” said General Manager Maritime Standards Sharyn Forsyth. Seafarers will be able to use their current certificate until it expires, or, if their certificate has no expiry date, up to and including March 31, 2019, at which point they must transition to a new certificate.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says it welcomed guilty verdicts against Gloria Davis and AZ1 Enterprises Limited on charges relating to the sinking of the 'Easy Rider' with the loss of eight lives off Stewart Island in March 2012. Ms Davis is the sole director of the company that operated the fishing boat which capsized in Foveaux Strait on March 15, 2012, claiming eight lives, including Ms Davis's husband, Rewai Karetai, who was skipper of the vessel. A number of specific charges…

New Zealand Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has signed into law the Maritime Rules giving effect to SeaCert – a major overhaul of the certification process for New Zealand seafarers. SeaCert is the new Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) seafarer licensing framework for domestic and international Certificates of Competency and Proficiency. It also sets out where seafarers can operate in local and international waters and will replace the old Qualifications and Operational Limits (QOL) system. “SeaCert provides a new, simpler and competency-based domestic certificate framework as well as increased recognition of New Zealand certificates overseas, making it easier for New Zealand seafarers to work in other jurisdictions,” said General Manager Maritime Standards Sharyn Forsyth.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) welcomed the release of the independent review of its response to the grounding of the Rena, and the announcement of $2 million of government funding to help improve New Zealand’s maritime response capability.The report, by independent reviewer Simon Murdoch, was released today by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee.MNZ Director Keith Manch said the organization was already implementing a number of the review recommendations and the funding package would help MNZ develop a wider strategic and operational response to maritime incidents.In the review report…

New Zealand Government Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced a $2 million package to help Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) improve New Zealand’s wider maritime response capability following an independent review of its response to the grounding of the container ship 'Rena' off the coast of Tauranga in October 2011. Conducted by former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Murdoch, the review identified several areas for improvement. Mr Brownlee says the Rena response was about more than oil…

A water-based homage to the classic "Ghost Chips" road safety TV advertisement has won this year's Bounty Hunter Fishing Tournament video competition, which was sponsored by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and PlaceMakers Big Angry Fish. Naomi Willis of Cambridge won $3,000 for her “very creative and funny” on-the-water take-off of the “Ghost Chips” advertisement. MNZ Education and Communications Manager Pania Shingleton said while many of the videos had a humorous tone, particularly “Ghost Rod”, the safety message was a deadly serious one. "The main target is to get more people wearing lifejackets and reduce the number of recreational boating deaths in New Zealand,” she said.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has laid three charges against Sanford Ltd. after an investigation into alleged illegal dumping of oil into the sea of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone from the Korean foreign charter fishing vessel Pacinu, a vessel owned by Juahm Industries operating under charter in New Zealand to Sanford Ltd. Sanford is charged with illegal discharge of a harmful substance – oil – from the vessel (under s237 of the Maritime Transport Act), failing to notify MNZ of the discharge (s238), and failure to notify a pollution incident (s239). The discharge of a harmful substance charge carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of $200,000.

Charges have been laid against two commercial jet boat drivers following a collision on the Dart River, near Queenstown, in which a passenger suffered a broken clavicle & several others suffered bruising. The incident involved jet boats from Dart River Safaris (who do not face any charges as a result of the incident) one jet boat carrying 11 passengers and heading upstream and the other, carrying the driver alone, heading downstream. The charges, laid under section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act, are that the drivers caused unnecessary risk or danger to those on board through their actions.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says the $10,500 fine sends a clear message to polluters of New Zealand waters. Southern Storm Fishing Ltd, owners of the fishing vessel Oyang 75, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court on a charge under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 of failure to notify two harmful discharges to sea. “The rules around discharging waste are clear – we will not allow any operators to flout these regulations and damage New Zealand’s marine environment,” MNZ Manager Intelligence and Planning Paul Fantham said. On 8 August 2011, MNZ inspectors discovered a concealed piping arrangement aboard the Oyang 75 that allowed unfiltered bilge effluent, containing oil, to be discharged directly into the sea when a hidden pump switch was turned on.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) to phase in the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) from 1, July 2014. MOSS is intended to improve safety in the commercial maritime environment through safer operations and vessels. It will be based on direct relationships between operators, surveyors, and MNZ, as the regulator. The proposed rules for MOSS, which will replace the current Safe Ship Management (SSM) System, are due to be considered by the Transport Minister for gazetting by 1 July 2013. It is anticipated the new rules will come into force on 1 July 2014. “We recognise that we need this time after the rules come into force to engage and consult further with industry and to develop the guideline material and tools to implement MOSS.