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
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/142553
maritime new zealand PELCO FINED UNDER HSEA In April fish processing company Pelco was fined $16,000 in the Tauranga District Court after two of its employees suffered frostbite while unloading fish from a vessel in July 2012. The company faced a charge under Section 16 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for "failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees while at work". Two Pelco employees, both with minimal experience, suffered from frostbite while unloading fish from holds filled with water chilled to approximately -17 degrees Celsius. Both employees suffered frostbite as a result of working with the cold water and had also torn their gloves on fish spikes. All employees received a pair of thin rubber gloves and cotton glove liners, as well as other waterproof clothing. A safety briefing was also given, however this did not specifically identify the dangers of working in extremely cold water. The first victim was hospitalised for two and half weeks and is likely to have permanent limited mobility in the four fingers. The second victim also received medical treatment and while he has subsequently recovered from the frostbite, he will be unable to work in cold conditions. In addition to the fine imposed, Pelco was ordered to pay $2000 to the second victim and an additional $4000 to the first victim, to whom they have already paid $10,000. Pelin Davison, Maritime New Zealand regional compliance manager central, says that the sentence was a good result for the victims. "This sentence sends a strong message that health and safety is something which must be taken very seriously by employers. Just providing safety equipment is not sufficient – all practicable steps must be taken to mitigate or eliminate the hazard." MNZ SIGNS UP FOR INTERNATIONAL LIFE JACKET PROMOTION Maritime New Zealand has joined representatives of national boating authorities from Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom as signatory to the International Life jacket Wear Principles. The principles were agreed as part of the Marine13 conference in Sydney at the end of May, following initial development work at the Canadian Safe Boating Council Symposium in 2012. MNZ director Keith Manch said the principles aim to make life jackets a normal part of any media, publicity or advertising where small boats are involved. "Just as use of seatbelts in cars is now entirely expected, we want to see life jackets being worn whenever small boats are seen on screen or in photographs," he said. Signatories to the International Life jacket Wear Principles agree to recognise the fundamental role that wearing a life jacket plays in protecting people on the water and recognise the importance of promoting the use of life jackets when boating. All signatories endeavour to ensure that any publication including brochures, DVD, video and websites will feature all people wearing contemporary life jackets when in and outside the area of a small craft that is underway. Signatories will also recommend to the recreational boating industry that its publications similarly feature all people wearing life jackets when in an outside area of a small craft that is underway. Under the principles the signatories will be required to provide on-water education and to have compliance staff wear life jackets whenever they are on the water. The term "life jacket" must be used in public information and education and boating safety networks encouraged to become "safety partners" by 66 Professional Skipper July/August 2013 supporting the principles. Manch said that across the signatory nations, drowning was the most common factor in all fatal boating incidents, with four out of five victims reportedly not wearing a life jacket at the time. "These principles reflect what MNZ is already doing but we believe international unity behind the promotion of wearing life jackets will help strengthen and clarify the importance of life jackets across all jurisdictions," he said. "Wearing life jackets is our key message to recreational boaties along with checking weather conditions, ensuring they have two means of emergency communications that operate when wet, and avoiding alcohol. The simple truth is that life jackets save lives." MOSS MEETINGS UPDATE The proposed MOSS rules are with the Ministry of Transport and will be given to the Minister at the beginning of July with signing expected as soon after as the Minister's diary allows. The rules come into force on July 1, 2014. Maritime New Zealand general manager compliance, Harry Hawthorn, said now that there is agreement in principle between Ministry of Transport and MNZ around key aspects of the rule MNZ is scaling up the implementation programme. The MOSS Industry Advisory Group met for the first time in April. The group provided valuable advice on the proposed process for the director to consider applications for new Maritime Transport Operator Certificates. On June 12 the Advisory Group met at MNZ offices in Wellington for the second time. The MNZ internal programme steering group also met on May 31, where they considered the advice received from the industry advisory group. The group also received the final SeaCert implementation plan and considered the overall communication approach for the project. In addition, papers for the proposed MOSS audit process and the approach to extend recognition for those surveyors whose current recognition expires on July 1, 2013 were presented and considered. Hawthorn says MNZ will be able to start announcing key decisions to industry shortly and with them more advice on how to transition into MOSS. More information about MOSS can be found by visiting www.maritimenz.govt.nz/moss SEACERT PROGRESS SeaCert continues to progress, and Maritime New Zealand representatives met with the Federation of Commercial Fishermen on May 17. Their feedback was extremely valuable and will help guide the industry engagement and communications process as the SeaCert project continues. Some updated website content is currently being developed, which will include clear guidance on operational limits and the transition of seafarer certification into SeaCert. Once complete, it will be hosted on the MNZ SeaCert website. MNZ general manager maritime standards Sharyn Forsyth says as both projects progress, industry engagement will increase. "At this stage, due to neither project's rules having had Ministerial signoff, there's a limited amount of detailed information we can share. However once the rules are approved, we will be in a position to provide significant information about the rules and their application." MNZ received 150 submissions on the SeaCert rules. These are currently being analysed and the rules redrafted where necessary. Rules 20 and 31 are currently with the Ministry of Transport for initial comments. More information about SeaCert can be found by visiting www.maritimenz.govt.nz/seacert www.skipper.co.nz