Professional Skipper - Free Sample issue (July/Aug 2011)

WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business In brief… Maritime New Zealand loses bid Maritime New Zealand has failed to persuade the Supreme Court to hear its appeal against court decisions ordering it to re-instate Survey Nelson to the safe ship monitoring programme. Maritime NZ's director, Catherine Taylor dumped Survey Nelson from the SSM system in 2009, prompting the company to take legal action. The bid has cost taxpayers more than $800,000. On June 2 the Supreme Court declined Maritime NZ's application to appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling. Survey Nelson's lawyer, Peter Dawson, said while his clients were relieved with the decision they also looked forward to working to restore their relationship with Maritime NZ. Ms Taylor was severely criticised by the High Court and the Court of Appeal for the way she tried to dump Survey Nelson from the system. She was told she had failed to follow legal processes, causing prejudice to Survey Nelson. After losing in the Court of Appeal, Ms Taylor was later ordered by the High Court to comply with the Court of Appeal's ruling. Driver ignored basic rule The primary cause of the death of two men after a jet boat and jetski collision in 2009 was the position of the jet boat on the Kawarau River, Maritime New Zealand investigator Bruce McLaren told an inquest into the deaths. Laurence Brett Singleton and Anton Okar Woitasek died when they were thrown from their jet boat after it and a jetski collided. The jet boat was heading upstream on the left-hand side of the river and the collision occurred on a blind bend. "Brett Singleton should have been travelling on the opposite, right side of the river. With his extensive experience he would have known of this basic requirement,'' McLaren said. There was no apparent explanation for why he had failed to comply with such a fundamental rule, he said. The jetski rider, Mark Clay, had been driving safely. He and his passenger, Emma Eckhold, were both seriously injured. A Transport Accident Investigation Commission report found both men would probably have survived if they had worn lifejackets. The Queenstown Lakes District Council has since made wearing lifejackets mandatory on its waterways. 48 Professional Skipper July/August 2011 r Safety booklet for tuna fishery THE NORTHERN BLUEFIN tuna fishery off the western coast of the South Island is fast becoming the fishery of choice for many becoming the fishery of choice for many locals and international fishers during the winter. Several world records have been set in this fishery. Maritime New Zealand has been aware of this fishery for some time, and has produced the draft of a booklet to remind produced the draft of a booklet to remind operators of the need to take their safety and the safety of other vessels seriously. The free trial booklet contains some recommended safe operating practices for commercial and recreational vessels entering this fishery, including: • vessel and personal statutory requirements (commercial and recreational) • weather and bar crossing information • large vessel interaction and communication • general maritime safety • some fishing techniques and tips, and • catch processing for all. Maritime NZ says it wrote the booklet following very useful input from a bluefin charter operator. The contents will be finalised after further consultation with operators this season. Maritime NZ industry liaison officer Darren Guard will introduce operators to the resource during the season. For a copy of the trial booklet, contact darren.guard@maritimenz.govt.nz or call (027) 237-1456. SANFORD PROFITS DOUBLE THE NEW ZEALAND fishing company Sanford has announced a first half net profit of $13.1 million, more than double last year's profit for the same period of $5.3 million, thanks to bigger catches and higher prices. The result was attributed to a 23 percent jump in revenue to $228 million over the six months to March 31. Prices increased for all fish species, as strong demand continued to exceed the company's ability to meet supply. The directors declared an unchanged interim dividend of 90 cents per share, payable on June 15. The board is focused on reducing debt following its purchase of Pacifica Seafoods on November 30. Sale volumes and revenue per kilo for skipjack tuna, toothfish and salmon climbed, and revenue per kilo returns for Greenshell mussels, ling and squid also rose. Hoki sale volumes also rose. Mussel processing volumes were lower, due to problems at the company's two plants, but production is expected to increase in the second half of the year. Greenshell mussel production is anticipated to increase toward 100 tonnes per day each and salmon harvest volumes will surpass those of last year. Time stops for Timeball LYTTELTON'S HISTORIC TIMEBALL Station tower, built in 1876, collapsed following a major earthquake in Christchurch on June 14. The tower toppled at 1420 while contractors were dismantling the building, which was badly damaged in earlier earthquakes in September and February. Two workmen were elevated in a cage when the 5.5 quake hit, but were uninjured. The project manager for the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Paul McGahan, said the new damage was substantial. "The mast and Timeball is down the slope, near the gate at the front. Two containers prevented material going forward and onto the road," McGahan said. The chief executive of the trust, Bruce Chapman, said while some of the building was still standing, the site was too dangerous to assess. "Considerable care and attention had gone into the dismantling process to safeguard people as best as possible," he said.

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