The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft, je
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EDITORIAL Prophecies COME TRUE BY KEITH INGRAM, PUBLISHER J eez, don't you just hate it when one makes idle predictions and prophecies only to find out later that most of the comments came true. It would be fair to say that the commercial marine industry continues to suffer from the world's economic recession. When one looks at the United States and notes their borrowed debt level is currently running at some $40 trillion greenbacks, it's only the naughts that count.Yes, it does have an impact or down stream effect on little old New Zealand. When we look across the ditch, the axe is about to fall on the Australian economy. Gone is the Australian mining boom of iron ore and coal. Why? The emerging super power China, is now starting to feel the effects of the American belts tightening. If such an event can have a serious impact on China's production, just think what it can do to the rest of the world. I fear we are not out of the woods yet. How does this affect us you might ask? My old Nana used to say."Charity begins at home. Do not spend what you do not have and if you must spend, spend wisely to make sure that the money goes round".Wise words. I guess what she was trying to say was, that when the going gets tough spend wisely at home and make the money go around the local community. It's called looking after those who look after you. Wise words. New Zealand is an island nation, one where we rely on shipping to bring in, or depart with, most of our trade in imports and exports. Supporting the ports and shipping, are vibrant waterfront communities composed of, coastal shipping, workboats and the fishing industry. But, we are now observing the constant loss of commercial waterfront space to apartments, restaurants, bars and recreational space. Space is required to run a maritime industry that Government, local authorities, business and farming communities of New Zealand have to rely on if we want to maintain a stable economy. It's cheaper to buy from China. We have become a throwaway nation, and we are at risk losing the number eight fencing wire Kiwi mentality. Every year it saddens me when I read of another new boat import destined for the domestic commercial fleet, or a new ship assist tug that is going to be built somewhere in Asia. At the end of the day you end up getting what you pay for, As past experience attests, it is very hard to get a trusted turn-key new build out of Asia. When things go wrong, as they inevitably do, you can't just go and throw rocks through the builder's windows if he wont listen to you. So you end up paying a heap more for aftermarket variations and repairs. Meanwhile, the local ship building and repair industry that we have to rely on for service and repairs, slowly dies because the industry's cream, as in new builds, which is the work that gives many yards consistency to cover their overheads and retain the valued skills we require at survey time, are being lost. When I look around the country I see many slipways being removed and valuable equipment like winches, cradles and rails being shipped offshore. It is getting so serious that we are now seeing local vessels having to travel hundreds of miles for slipping and ship repair when once that work was done in their home port; where not only was it easier, it was a part of the money go round of the local economy. The development of Yard 37 at Hobsonville is exciting for the white-boat and super-yacht fleet, but sadly the prospect of having a fully integrated black, or workboat facility, has yet to be determined. It is unlikely that we will see steel ships, tugs and barges being built on this site in the foreseeable future.The two just do not mix, unless a major investor is prepared to commit to the capital investment in both land and buildings to establish a new ship and repair yard this will require Government support to establish the infrastructure, and then let the facility out to local ship builders creating local jobs and trade. The recent demise of the Whangarei shipyard ShipCo, is an example of where our industry loses. In recent years this yard has successfully built and commissioned in a turn-key operation, two 32m ship assist tugs, two 15m towboats, and they had another keel laid down, with potential future orders of tugs and barges for overseas clients. Sadly, apart from this last new build to be completed by the owner, these new orders are likely to be destined for Asia. Times are tough for our ship repair industry and yet we see the government giving a 15 percent subsidy to the American film industry to produce motion pictures in New Zealand. What about our ship building industry I ask? A 15 percent subsidy would just about turn our ship building industry around, creating hundreds of jobs and the flow on effect, we would be able to replace our aging fishing and workboat fleet with modern efficient vessels. Fortunately there are some who understand my old Nana's advice. The New Zealand owned company Sealink has chosen to have their new 44m vehicular ferry built by a Whangarei consortium. Well done Sealink, hopefully others will now follow suit by "spending wisely to make sure that the money goes round", and in doing so supporting the New Zealand economy, while maintaining the vital skills and service support our workboat industry needs. NZ WORKBOAT REVIEW 2013 1