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
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waterfront business in brief… Bankrupt King is back Soon after the Ministry of Economic Development's prosecution of Grant King in July 2012 for illegally operating two businesses while he was an undischarged bankrupt, King is back in a third illegal business as of January this year. His new venture appears to be operating as the New Zealand Distribution agent for Tern Anchors, using Chinese investors for his business actions. High costs in Havelock Charter boat operators in Havelock are being forced to charge high prices as business struggles. The difficulties are caused by a fall in tourist numbers, running costs are high and narrow cod-fishing rules in effect in the Marlborough Sounds – rules restricting people to catching two cod between 30 and 35cm in length meaning that with 10 passengers on board each fish costs $50. A local charter operator said he had to charge about $1000 for two hours travel into the Sounds and that fish that had been caught and returned to the water are often taken by shags or barracuda, or die from the stress of being hooked. Other fish are wasted because rules prevent on board filleting or chilling. The charter operator said that it would be better for people and for the fish if the Ministry for Primary Industries ruled that only the first six fish caught could be kept, rather than restricting their size. He also reported that some Havelock operators were considering not having boats surveyed this season because returns did not cover costs. The Lower Hatea River Crossing The new 265m long bridge crossing at the Hatea River in Whangarei is now open. The bridge is Whangarei's second harbour bridge between Pohe Island and Port Road and provides an alternative option for traffic travelling from Onerahi to the south of the city. The bridge has a 25m central lifting span to allow yachts to pass. It has a clear height of 7.5m above high water at the central span allowing most vessels to pass underneath without the lifting bridge being raised. 54 Further consultation on shared Otago/ Southland paua fishery STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON a shared paua fishery for sections of the Otago/Southland coast will continue – a welcome step says Seafood New Zealand. The Otago Southland paua industry says it wants to make the most of the next few months to try to reach an agreement with recreational and customary paua divers over shared access for areas of the coastline. The Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, has announced that the consultation process begun earlier this year on extending the shared fishery between commercial and recreational divers will continue. Seafood New Zealand CEO, Tim Pankhurst, says more discussions will allow an informed scientific understanding of what the effect of commercial and recreational divers sharing the fishery will be. He says a stock assessment for the region's paua fishery is due out very soon and he is confident that it will show the paua fishery is in a healthy state and growing. Collins Class subs to be upgraded THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL government has announced that computer control systems in the Collins Class submarines will be upgraded at ASC in Adelaide. AUD$65 million has been allocated for the first stage of work upgrading equipment first designed in the 1980s. ASC is to work with Adelaide based Saab Systems to engineer the new computer controls. A change in the maintenance scheduling of the Collins has also been announced. Instead of eight years of service followed by three years of "fullcycle docking" maintenance, the boats will serve 10 years in the water before two years of major service. The series of intermediate servicing, conducted either in WA or Adelaide, will be increased to accommodate the longer periods at sea. Current arrangements mean Australian defence forces can only expect to have two or three of its six submarines available. Under the new system, three and sometimes four will be available. New Zealand – Taiwan Economic Co-operation Agreement positive for seafood trade SEAFOOD NEW ZEALAND welcomes the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement between New Zealand and Taiwan that was negotiated by Trade Minister, Tim Groser and his team, in a process that first started under the watch of the previous Labour-led administration. All of New Zealand's seafood trade interests with Taiwan have been fully included in the agreement. All seafood items will be able to enter Taiwan tariff free within eight years – with many products benefitting much earlier. Seafood New Zealand understands that the trade in seafood products has been one of the more sensitive product sectors for Taiwan and welcomes Professional Skipper September/October 2013 the commitment of the Taiwanese government to liberalise the trade. The ANZTEC agreement will send a strong trade policy signal to other highly protected economies in Asia. Taiwan started to emerge as a significant seafood market for New Zealand more than 10 years ago. In 2000, exports were worth $30 million. However, the Taiwanese authorities at the time intervened and the emerging trade quickly retreated and by 2003 exports were down to $15 million. Today, sales to Taiwan are worth $13 million annually, led by fishmeal and Greenshell mussels. The agreement will help to restore the New Zealand seafood sector's competitive advantage as a supplier to the Taiwanese market. www.skipper.co.nz