Professional Skipper Magazine from VIP Publications

EDITORIAL TM MOSS STRIKES TROUBLED WATERS Servicing the maritime industry since 1996 Incorporating New Zealand Workboats, NZ Professional Skipper & Oceans ISSN 1176-3078 ISSN 1176-8665 is published by: VIP Publications, 4 Prince Regent Drive, Half Moon Bay, Auckland 2012 Ph 09 533 4336 Fax 09 533 4337 Email keith@skipper.co.nz advertising@skipper.co.nz website: www.skipper.co.nz Editor: Manager: Sub Editor: Contributors: Advertising: Designer: Printers: Distribution: Keith Ingram Vivienne Ingram Sandra Gorter Baden Pascoe Carol Forsyth Michael Pign��guy Hugh Ware, USA David Ledson Daniel Corbett Stuart Cawker Margaret Wind R. Lea Clough Lynton Diggle Trevor Coppock Karyn van Wijngaarden Louise Deehan-Owen Jerry Payne Murray Dear Sandra Gorter Jeff Cook Justine Inns Greg Wilson Rachel Walker GEON Gordon and Gotch Ltd Subscriptions: Professional Skipper is published for the maritime transport industry. It is available on subscription in NZ and overseas. General: Reproduction of articles and materials published in Professional Skipper in whole or part, is permitted provided the source and author(s) are acknowledged. However, all photographic material is copyright and written permission to reproduce in any shape or form is required. Contributions of a nature relevant to the maritime transport industry are welcomed and industry participants are especially encouraged to contribute. Letters to the Editor should be signed and carry the writer���s full name and address. Articles and information printed in Professional Skipper do not necessarily reflect the opinions or formal position or the publishers unless otherwise indicated. Material and information of a formal nature provided by the MSA, MoF or TAIC is identified by the use of their logo. All material published in Professional Skipper is done so with all due care as regards to accuracy and factual content. The publishers and editorial staff however cannot accept responsibility for any inadvertent errors and omissions which may occur. Professional Skipper is produced bi-monthly. JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR ��� MPA AWARDS 2012 JUDGED HIGHLY COMMENDED EDITOR OF THE YEAR ��� MPA AWARDS 2009 Finalist 2008 Qantas Media Awards t would be fair to say that Maritime New Zealand has been navigating some very troubled waters of late with its planned introduction of MOSS and SeaCert. As we go to press we were given the heads up from Maritime NZ that MOSS would be delayed yet again. I From an industry perspective this is very frustrating as many operators are all ready to go, with systems in place for a July 2013 changeover. Meanwhile, the delegated authority for Safe Ship Management companies, which was to be withdrawn on March 1, will now have to be extended. It has not gone unnoticed that we have had five significant changes in the MOSS development team during the past three years, with each management change or Maritime NZ restructure resulting in more confusion, increasing the level of uncertainty for operators. To add to the confusion, as we approach the final hours before the introduction of SeaCert, the manager in charge spits the dummy, giving two weeks notice and leaves. What is it with these so-called bureaucratic experts?! Have they not cottoned on to the adage: ���When the going gets tough the tough get going���? Nah! It would appear when it all gets too much it is much easier to desert the ship! Wusses! Or is it incompetence? Now when we look at the proposed cost structure, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see how Maritime NZ can keep their promise of lower costs to the industry. Clearly Maritime NZ believe, SSM failed to deliver the safety outcomes they were seeking. Which really surprises me, especially as when we look at the overall numbers of passengers, tonnage of cargo carried, and the amount of fish caught, our safety record is not all that bad. The elephant in the room is the high level of recreational boating fatalities. The Government seems reluctant to address this growing and ongoing problem, resorting instead to focussing its attention on the commercial industry. Granted, the 14 lost souls from the mutton-bird islands tragedies, and the recent losses in the FCV deepwater sinkings, have knocked the fishing industries stats for a six. These incidents are isolated, and a fix should target those responsible rather than penalise the whole New Zealand coastal and inshore fleet. But it will be Maritime NZ���s proposed cost structure that will ultimately be the Achilles heel of MOSS. For small operators, we are talking about a Maritime NZ fee of $750 to review the operator���s maritime transport operator plan, and if you pass muster, they will issue a maritime transport operators certificate. But the word is that the bureaucratic process is so complicated that most operators will fail first time up, and incur added cost the second time around. This is on top of your normal survey, docking, and inspection costs. Then it gets worse for multi-vessel, or fleet operators, who are expected to pay a fleet charge as well as all the other, not insubstantial costs. Then add the new Maritime NZ hourly charge out rate of $313.55inc GST, plus travel and administration��� one can soon imagine the level of increased costs for the industry! Sadly, we run the risk of driving many small operators under the radar, and as history will attest, Maritime NZ have little ability to effect compliance; meaning the pirate fleet could grow out of all proportions. Whether this will mean that these pirate operators will be any less safe is a moot point. By my reckoning, I suspect that they will be doubly careful, because in all probability the only time they will get caught is when they have an accident or incident, thus coming up on Maritime NZ���s radar. This is not an outcome that either the small owner operators or our industry wants, which is why the Board of Maritime NZ need to look seriously at its proposed cost structure. On this note, it is vitally important that all operators, large or small, take the time to make submissions on line or by post. See: http://maritimenz.govt.nz/ Consultation/QOL Likewise, it is important for operators to voice either their support or concerns by: submitting to the ongoing MOSS consultation process directly, by contacting your SSM company, or for an independent voice, the NZ Marine Transport Assn, to ensure your voice is heard. In the meantime, Maritime NZ have announced the appointment of Sharyn Forsyth, a name many will know. Sharyn is now in charge of QOL and the introduction of SeaCert seafarer certification. Likewise, MOSS has a new boss in the relatively newly appointed general manager Harry Hawthorn. Harry has just finalised the appointment of his team and we have taken the opportunity to introduce their biographies at the end of this magazine. It makes for interesting reading. These people and their team of maritime officers will be your frontline point of contact in the regions. As we go to press we now hear of the ramming of two Sea Shepherd anti-whaling protest vessels by the Japanese whalers. This is clearly what happens when both our own maritime safety authority, and the international marine organisations, do nothing. The writing was on the wall after the ramming and sinking of the protest vessel Ady Gil. When will our Government take a stronger position and follow the Australian���s stance, banning the Japanese from hunting whales in our international Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary? And enforce it��� Keith Ingram, Editor

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